Weekly Demonstrations

Every Saturday at 11.30am*

What did people do before the invention of anaesthetic and antiseptic procedures?
Everyone is familiar with the red and white stripes outside of barber’s shops; but do you know what the rotating pole means?

*Booking is necessary for this talk and please check the programme or call for details as sometimes special events or private boolkings replace the regular talks on Saturdays.

Speed Surgery - Surgery in the 19th Century

Every Saturday 2.00pm*

A surgical demonstration presented within the original architecture of the old operating theatre of St. Thomas’s Hospital of 1822. Before the advent of anaesthesia, an operation had to be swift. Without hand-washing or antiseptics, the chance of later infection was high.

Herbs, the Garret and the Old Operating Theatre

Every Sunday 2.00pm*

In the past, medicines were made from plants, animals and even precious stones.
Learn how 'drugs' such as foxglove, myrrh and unicorn horns were used.
Examine real herbs in the attic space, originally used by the apothecary of St Thomas' Hospital.

*Please check the programme for details as sometimes special events replace the regular talks on Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm

Important notice: unfortunately we don't have a storage space for prams or a

cloakroom for luggage.

SPECIAL EVENT FOR

NATIONAL PATHOLOGY WEEK NOV 2010

November Thu 4th 6.30- 8pm

admission fee TBC

As well as operating on the living, doctors have always examined the dead to find out more about how the body works and what can go wrong. This is your chance to find out what an autopsy involves and how it has changed over the centuries. You can meet a real pathologist and even handle some of the instruments they use. Join us to find out what doctors can learn from the dead – and how this can help the living.

feedback from the public:

"This was an excellent event – very interesting and enjoyable.

I loved how interactive it was.

Thank you for an amazing time"

.This event is part of National Pathology Week, which is organised by the Royal College of Pathologists and sponsored by Siemens.

www.nationalpathologyweek.org

SUMMER EVENTS!

The Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret is celebrating the 350 year anniversary of the birth of Sir Hans Sloane, entrepreneur,

physician, philanthropist, botanist ...and chocolate lover.

LOCAL HEROES

See further with the Royal Society in 2010 - celebrate 350 years of excellence in science

EVENTS FOR FAMILIES:

August; Tuesday 17^th & Tuesday 24^th at 2pm

Sir Hans Sloane: The Odyssey of Chocolate Workshop

Discover the fascinating story of chocolate's long, rich history, from it's early usage by the ancient Aztecs, who drank chocolate as a bitter beverage during religious and social ceremonies, to the explosion and mass production of chocolate throughout Europe in the nineteenth century!

For centuries chocolate has symbolised: wealth, health and love across a diverse range of cultures as well as being the nation's favourite tasty treat of choice. The odyssey of chocolate aims to explore many aspects of the rich social significance of chocolate's history!

The workshop is suitable for all ages and includes sampling different variations of chocolate in it's modern form, as well as designing your own chocolate label.

Friday 13th and Friday 20th at 3pm

Nature Morte- Still Life In The Garret

This summer The Old Operating Theatre and Herb Garret museum will be hosting a programme of art themed workshops. Nature Morte is an educational activity that aims to use artistic practise to explore  medical artefacts. Each session will consider a range of historic objects taken from the museums handling collection and display exhibit, in an attempt  to trace the changing designs of equipment in the past two hundred year. The objective of this workshop is that by illustrating these artifacts it will enable participants with an understanding of how designs have evolved in line with medical progress.

The workshop will last just over an hour, paper and pencils will be provided by the museum. No experience of drawing is necessary and is open to all ages of children and adults.  

Tuesday 17th, Thursday 19th, Tuesday 24th at 12pm (noon)

What did people do before the invention of anaesthetic and antiseptic procedures?
Everyone is familiar with the red and white stripes outside of barber’s shops; but do you know what the rotating pole means?

*Booking is necessary for this talk and please check the programme or call for details as sometimes special events or private boolkings replace the regular talks on Saturdays.

Wed 18th, Wed 25th at 3pm and 4pm over 12 only

Gore Tour!

The House of Instruments

Hands on surgery! A tour of the museum through the instruments of the most horrible surgical procedures...

Dare to handle the harsh instruments of healing history!

Thu 26th August 3 pm over 15 only

The Herbs of the Dark Art- Herbs & Witchcraft

There has always been a strong fascinating relationship between herbs, folklore and even witchcraft in English countryside and in the rest of the world. Wise women and shamans often took the role of doctors in tribes and small rural villages using herbal remedies to cure physical and supernatural afflictions.

From the mandrake's scream to witches uguent join us for a talk on medicine & magic among the smells and spells of our atmopsheric garret.

Sunday 15^th and 22^nd of August

How Medicines Were Made From Plants

A talk and demonstration on historic herbal medicine. Learn some centuries old remedies that you can try at home!

Booking is strongly advised. Call 0207 188 2679

or email curator@thegarret.org.uk to reserve a place

EVENING LECTURES IN AUGUST

Thursday 12th August at 6.30 pm

"Vampires and Werewolves among us?
Legends and Scientific Reality"

by bioarcheologist and palaeopathologist Anastasia Tsaliki

Due to recent TV shows and films such as the Twilight Saga, there is an
increased popular interest on vampires and shape-shifters.

This talk will explore the fascinating origins and the folklore of the vampires
and the werewolves, but it will also study the reality behind these legends from
an archaeological and medical viewpoint.

Who were those accused and tried of vampirism or lycanthropy through history?
Where did they live?

Who was Dracula? Are there real vampires?

Come along to find out, but beware as this talk is not suitable for the faint-hearted and those under 15!

Over 15s

£6 (no conc)

Thursday 19th August at 6.30

William Cheselden, who could cut for the stone in 54 seconds!
Samuel Sharpe, the eye surgeon who could cut out your cataracts!

A talk about the rise of the scientific surgeon in the 18th century and the end of the Barber Surgeons Company.

Hear about some of the surgeons who joined the Royal Society and worked to elevate the status of the profession, their practice of the science of anatomy, the operations they developed and the instruments of surgery that they used.

Over 15s

£6 (no conc)

Booking is strongly advised. Call 0207 188 2679

or email curator@thegarret.org.uk to reserve a place