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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 15h

We are looking for an Events and Marketing Assistant to join the team. You can find out more about the role and how to apply here: jobs.rcsed.ac.uk/jobs/5051448...

Dark blue background with white text. It reads: Join the team. To the left of the image there is a photo of an old travelling medicine chest. It is open to show the different compartments and glass bottles inside.

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Reposted by Surgeons' Hall Museum

The Past and other Places @pastandotherplaces.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Breast cancer awareness. Edinburgh Thursday October 1st. 7pm. Led by breast surgeon Beatrix Elsberger in collaboration with Surgeons' Hall Museums, the event will feature a series of talks from leading specialists in breast surgery.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Join us at Surgeons' Hall Museums this Breast Cancer Awareness Month for an inspiring evening exploring the history of breast cancer treatment and the advances shaping care today. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/breast-can...

eventbrite.co.uk

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Past, Present and Future

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, explore the history of breast cancer treatment and the advances shaping care today

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The case for this syringe has a safety pin which allowed it to be pinned to a lapel for safe transport in the field. The syringe was used by Professor A S Duncan in the Second World War.

A steel syringe case- which is pen like in shape. The syringe has been pulled out the case to show the pointed needle. There is a safety pin attached to the case.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

We’re joined by @anatomicalcat.bsky.social to uncover London’s Great Windmill Street Anatomy Theatre- an 18th century hub that helped transform anatomical teaching and how we see the body. Listen wherever you get your podcasts! shows.acast.com/beyond-the-k...

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#ICYMI we won't be participating in Doors Open Day this weekend. You can find a full list of participating venues here: www.doorsopendays.org.uk/regions/edin... The Museum will be open from 10am-5pm over the weekend and normal admission fees will apply. museum.rcsed.ac.uk/visit/tickets

White text on dark blue background which reads: We are not participating in Doors Open Day. There is a photo of a glass quire's inhaler anaesthetic apparatus to the left of the text.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

It's time for another #WordOnWednesday! This week we are looking for two words you would come across in our Wohl Pathology gallery.

Dark blue background with white text. It reads: Can you guess this week's word from our Wohl Pathology gallery.
There are 2 words. The first is made up of 8 letters and the second is made up of 9 letters.
Clues:
• An anagram of Vicelarc Braveatee
• Contain the atlas and axis
• Labelled C1 to C7, they are smaller than the others and have unique holes.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

These are gum elastic catheters. These are a thin, flexible medical rod used to guide breathing tubes into the windpipe during difficult airway procedures

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Our #TriviaTuesday objects this week are from the 20th century and are 31.3 cm in length. Do you know what they are?

Bundle of thin red and black rubber tubes

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

We were thrilled to receive this beautiful thank you card from a school in Aberdeenshire after one of our workshops. The heart on the front is an oil painting by an S5 student!

A white card with Thank You drawn in be pen. There is an oil painting of an anatomical heart on the front.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

We will not be participating in doors open day weekend. You can find a full list of participating venues here: www.doorsopendays.org.uk/regions/edin... The Museum will be open from 10am-5pm as usual over the weekend.: museum.rcsed.ac.uk/visit/tickets

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

We’ve got a busy couple of months lined up. We have talks on the history and evolution of breast cancer surgery, Georgian medicine, phrenology and Burke & Hare, and 19th-century occupational lung disease. Plus, An Evening with Surgeons’ Hall is back in November! More info 👇

Dark blue background with white text. It reads: New Events!

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

This is a tape carrier for corundum tape. This was popular in dentistry prior to the introduction of sandpaper disks and strips. #TriviaTuesday

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

It's time for another #TriviaTuesday! Our object this week is from the mid-19th century and measures 18.8 cm in length. Any ideas what it's for?

Instrument with a twisted ivory handle, angled metal shaft, adjustable washers near the head, and a small.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Abdominal retractors are used to hold back skin during surgical procedures such as the treatment of perforated or bleeding stomach ulcers, and while removing parts of the colon or the spleen

A metal instrument with two handles. Each end is has a flat piece of metal which has a slight bend in it..

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Postmortem set by Ferris & Co, 8 components, stainless steel with ebony handles, in a velvet-lined wooden case. The set includes a skull saw, chisel, 2 blow pipes, chain hooks, three scalpels, sprung tweezers and a cartilage knife with sprung socket handle.

An ebony box with a dark velvet lining. There are some instruments in the case as well as some instruments laying out beside the case. There is an interchangable saw and knife blade next to a metal handle. There is also 3 chain hooks to the top of the picture.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

One of two pocket cases for pills and powders which Sir James Young Simpson carried with him on his rounds. On the inside of one is written 'Please return to 52 Queen Street.'

Antique metal apothecary pillbox with ten hinged compartments, each labeled in Latin (e.g., PIL., CALOMEL, CANNAB.)

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Our word for #WordOnWednesday this week comes from our History of Surgery gallery.

Dark blue background with white text which reads: Can you guess this week's word from our History of Surgery gallery?
There is space for 9 letters.
Clues:
·An anagram of Sremmimse
·Briefly used as a surgical pain-relief method in the early 1800s.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

It's time for another #TriviaTuesday! This week we have these objects. They are from the 20th century and are both around 17 cm in length. Any ideas what they are for?

Two stainless steel surgical forceps with ring handles- one is straight and one is curved.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Join us on Thursday for another fascinating lunchtime talk! @anatomicalcat.bsky.social explores the remarkable story of the Great Windmill Street Anatomy School, one of the most important centres for anatomical teaching in eighteenth-century London. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lunch-time...

Image of an etching of the Great Windmill Street Anatomy School placed on a background made to look like old paper. There is text that reads Lunch Time Talk: The Great Windmill Street Anatomy School. Thursday 10 September. 1.15pm

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

This miniature microscope is from 1880 and would have been used for both field work and beginners interested in microscopy. It is only 17 cm in height!

Pocket microscope standing beside its open wooden storage box, the box showing fitted compartments for lenses and accessories.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

This field surgeon's pharmacy/apothecary kit dates from the late 19th century. It contains glass bottles and a set of brass measuring scales with 4 apothecary weights. One of the bottles still has some remnants of an unknown material.

Antique leather travel medicine kit opened to reveal a blue velvet lined interior with rows of small glass vials, cork-stoppered bottles, and divided compartments for powders and supplies.

Antique brass balance scale with a central beam and pointer, two round brass pans suspended by green cords, and a small tassel at the top.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

This watercolour painting of a human and animal skull resting on some books was painted by J Murray in 1883. Also resting on the books are a tooth, a vertebra and the bones of a finger.

A watercolour painting of a human skull and an animal skull resting on top of a set of 3 books.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Are you student considering a career in surgery? Join us at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh for an event exploring surgical careers, tackling common myths, hearing from diverse surgical speakers, networking, and more. More info: museum.rcsed.ac.uk/whats-on/eve...

Promotional poster for a medical student event "If You Can See It You Can Be It" promoting representation and visibility in surgery, showing surgeons and surgical robots; Saturday 19 September, 1–4:30pm at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

James Young Simpson used these stethoscopes at his practice. One is made of turned rosewood and the other of carved ivory. The large, flat end was placed against the ear and the other end against the patient's skin.

A rosewood stethoscope. One end is larger and flat and the other end is smaller and more cupped.

An ivory stethoscope. One end is larger and flat and the other end is smaller and more cupped.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Dr Theeba Krishnamoorthy discusses early South Asian women doctors and their ties to Edinburgh. Her research reveals a hidden legacy of pioneers who crossed continents, cultures and barriers. Listen wherever you get your podcasts! shows.acast.com/beyond-the-k...

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

This hairball comes from the stomach of a donkey. The donkey was quite old and had been unwell for some time without any obvious explanation. On post mortem examination 3 hairballs were found. This one measures 6.5cm in diameter.

A large smooth looking hairball in a glass jar

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

The answer this week is cutaneous horn!

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

For #WordOnWednesday this week we are looking for two words you would find in our Wohl Pathology gallery. Can you solve the anagram?

Dark blue background with white text that reads:
Can you guess this week's word from our Wohl Pathology gallery?
There are two words. The first is made up of 9 letters and the second is made up of 4 letters.
Clues:
• An anagram of Seatunuoc Nohr
• Hard, cone-shaped skin projection made of compacted keratin, the same material found in human hair and nails.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

This is a Reverdin needle used to pass through a surgical suture. It is named after Jacques Reverdin (1842-1929), a Swiss surgeon who pioneered the use of skin grafts. Reverdin retired from surgery in 1910 and pursued the study of butterflies.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

For #TriviaTuesday this week we have this late 20th century instrument. It is 20.5 cm in length. Any ideas what it is?

A metal instrument. It has a wide flat handle and a thin smaller long point at the end.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

It's that time of the week again! Yep- it's #TriviaTuesday time! Our object this week is from the 19th century. It is 20cm in length. Any guesses what it is?

Small metal tool resembling a short knife: a straight blade joined by rivets to a curved handle.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

This knife was carried by a young thatcher. The handwritten label reads: 'This knife was carried in a back pocket and was driven into the gluteal region by a bundle of withes thrown over the shoulder. A gluteal aneurism resulted on which Mr Syme operated.'

A knife with twine wrapped round the handle. There is a hand written note placed beside it.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

The team have been hard at work in rehearsals over the past couple of weeks and can't wait to bring In Her Hand to life at the Edinburgh Fringe. We're thrilled to share that our entire run is completely sold out!

Staged study desk with an antique lantern and amber chloroform bottle beside a spiral-bound script titled IN HER HAND and a medallion, set against dark drawers and anatomical prints.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

For #WordOnWednesday this week, we are looking for a name you would come across in our current temporary exhibition Edinburgh: City of Medicine.

Dark blue background with white text.
It reads: Can you guess this week's words form our Edinburgh: City of Medicine Temporary Exhibition?
There are 3 word.
The first is made up of 9 letters, the second is made up of 5 letters and the third is made up of 6 letters.
Clues:

• Anagram of Dealernax Roomn Sipurm
• Became the Edinburgh Medical School’s first Chair of Anatomy.

There are 3 words

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

These are perimetry test sticks (or fixation sticks) used to check peripheral vision. #TriviaTuesday

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

For #TriviaTuesday this week we have these instruments. They are from the mid 20th century and are 36.5 cm in length. Any ideas what they are used for?

Two wooden sticks- one green and one black. They each have one smaller, more pointed end

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

This kind of dilator appears in textbooks from the 16th century onwards. It uses a squeezing action at the handles to produce a strong, but limited, action at the end of the arms. Surgeons often used dilators in operations to remove a bladder stone

Long crossed handles and central pivot- it slightly resembles a clothes peg

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

The sawfish uses its unusual snout (rostrum) to help find prey. It locates buried prey using special sensors covering the rostrum that detect electrical fields. It also uses it as a digging tool. This is one of the few remaining zoological specimens donated by John Barclay

Sawfish- a long flat centre with two rows of evenly spaced, narrow pointed teeth projecting from both sides, photographed against a black background.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

We're running free workshops for primary 6-7 as part of Maths Week. Use real-world forensic maths to investigate the clues in our recently discovered (plastic) skeleton. For more information, please email c.ronan@rcsed.ac.uk.

Forensic Bones a Maths Week Scotland free workshop for P6–P7 pupils using real-world forensic maths to investigate a teaching skeleton. Image shows a plastic ribcage with a magnifying glass and museum logos.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The answer this week is diethyl ether.

Blue background with white text. It reads: The answer to #WordOnWednesday is: Diethyl Ether. In 1540, it was synthisised by Valerius Cordus, who called it "sweet oil of vitriol" (oleum dulce vitrioli)

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

#WordOnWednesday is back! This week we are looking for two words you would find in our History of Surgery Gallery. Can you solve the puzzle?

Dark blue background with white text. It reads: Can you guess this week's word from our History of Surgery gallery?
Clues:
• An anagram of heeledthirty
• It is a highly flammable sweet-smelling liquid.
• In 1846, dentist William Morton demonstrated the pain-relieving properties of this chemical at the Massachusetts General Hospital, USA.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

This is a a Kirschner wire extension stirrup. It is used to stabilise and hold bones in place during surgery. #TriviaTuesday

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Our #TriviaTueday object this week is from the late 20th century. It is made of stainless steel and is 13 cm in length and 10.3 cm in width. What it is for?

A stainless steel horse shoe shaped instrument. It has some holes drilled in it.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

We are looking for a Provenance Researcher to improve what the Museum knows about the Human Remains Collection. Full details on the role and how to apply can be found here: cezanneondemand.intervieweb.it/rcsed/jobs/p... Applications close 14th of September.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

In the second part of this two-part series about vaping, Professor Ken Donaldson talks about. Before joining the Museum team, Professor Donaldson spent his career researching environmental lung diseases, including smokers lung disease. surgeonshallmuseums.wordpress.com/2026/08/07/v...

surgeonshallmuseums.wordpress.com

Vaping and health Part 2 Vaping/e-cigarette use – the modern nicotine-delivery system and its risks

In the second part of this two-part series about vaping, Professor Ken Donaldson talks about. Before joining the Museum team during his retirement, Professor Donaldson spent his career researching …

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

This green glass bottle was used to store chloroform. Scottish obstetrician James Young Simpson was the first to demonstrate the anaesthetic properties of chloroform on humans in 1847. Prior to that it had been first used on laboratory animals by Robert Mortimer Glover in 1842.

A rectangular green glass bottle with ribbing down the side. There is an orange rubber stopper in the top of the bottle.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

These brass name plates were taken from dental surgeon Thomas Dyke's practice. His premises was listed at Bank House, 11 Church Crescent in Dumfries in 1911.

Two brass plates. One is more worn than the other. The more worn one reads Mr Dykes Surgeon Dentist. The other reads Mr Dykes L.D.S Dental Surgeon.

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

This is an ophthalmic lamp. Early users of the ophthalmoscope still had to overcome difficulties in lighting. Before electric lamps were invented, practitioners were reliant on light produced by candles or spirit-powered lamps. [1/2]

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Surgeons' Hall Museum @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

For #TriviaTuesday this week we have this instrument from the late 19th century. It is 16 cm in length. Any ideas what it was used for?

A metal object made up of 3 cylindrical parts. 2 parts are vertical and one part in the middle is horizontal.

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