Museum & Herb Garret
Featured Object: Carbolic Spray
Posted: October 30, 2022
What reduced mortality after amputation surgery from 50% to 15% in the 1860s? What were the problems associated with using carbolic acid? Want to learn more? Read the full blog.…
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Scenes from the Dorcas Ward
Posted: October 18, 2022
“How did they get the patients up the stairs?” Once you are standing in the operating theatre situated in the roof of St Thomas’ Church, you may start to wonder…
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Carbolic Spray Used At Guy’s Hospital by Sir Henry Howse
Posted: August 12, 2022
First used at Glasgow Infirmary in 1867, carbolic acid spray was the first antiseptic used to kill germs during surgery. Although originally powered by a foot pump and nicknamed ‘the…
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Step into the role of a surgeon in our interactive game
Posted: June 24, 2022
Step into the role of a surgeon at St Thomas’ Hospital in the early 19th century, before the introduction of anaesthetics and antiseptic practices. Consider the difficult decisions facing a surgeon…
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Astley Cooper, Part 3: Surgeon to the King, Failing Health, and Death
Posted: May 5, 2022
Once a young radical, the middle-aged Cooper was increasingly mixing with the wealthy and aristocratic classes. In 1820, he was summoned to the new King George IV, who was suffering…
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Astley Cooper, Part 2: Accomplished Lecturer and Surgeon
Posted: May 5, 2022
In his first year as a lecturer, Cooper’s delivery had failed to engage his students and he had determined to make drastic changes to his approach. He started to use…
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