Wellcome Collection
@ExploreWellcome
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Free museum and library in London and online. Explore the past, present and future of health with us.
London, UK
Joined June 2009
What work do we value, and why? And what traces does work leave on the body?. Hard Graft is our major new free exhibition exploring work, health and rights. Open now at Wellcome Collection, until April 2025. Find out more at
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VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA. There. We said it. And no one died! Because vaginas are nothing to be ashamed of. So if you have one, treat it to a smear test today. #EndSmearFear.
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On this day in 2013, an artist called Audrey Amiss died alone in her south London flat, aged 79. She documented the last day of her life by pasting some food packaging into a scrapbook, and recording the things she noticed in her final hours.
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Wow. Historic FAKE NEWS leak: 'orange-faced devil grabs people with small hands, urinates'. A TOTAL WITCH HUNT! Shame. #fakenews
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What's #Covfefe? Our collection suggests it's a demon summoned by writing its name over & over again. Its powers are unclear. Bear with! đŹ
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The Romans were fascinated with the phallus. Literally. Considered a charm that could ward off evil, it was related to the deity Fascinus whose name comes from the Latin 'fascinare' which means 'enchantment, spell, witchcraft' and from where we get the word 'fascinate'.
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Whatâs the point of museums? . Truthfully, weâre asking ourselves the same question. đ§ľ
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#ThingsThatAreBadForYourHealth introducing the stimulating vapours of tobacco through the rectum to 'resuscitate' the drowned. The 18th century was an interesting time to be alive.
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Sex education and sexual enlightenment is good for everyone. But what happens when that discussion is censored on social media, where the word vagina is an âoffensiveâ term? @WhoresofYore looks at the battleground of sexual censorship on the internet. [THREAD] #SexualHealthWeek
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Death, in the form of a skeleton, dances in succession with people representing different social ranks - from Pope to peasant - and takes away each in turn, demonstrating that no one, however exalted in life, can escape death. #InternationalDanceDay
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For anyone who needs to hear it: You're doing great!
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âSilence = Deathâ. If you donât speak out, you are complicit. George Floydâs murder was vicious, tragic and avoidable. He joins others who died needlessly. We need to act up in the face of structural racism and the turbulence caused by colonial violence now. #BlackLivesMatter
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This anatomical fugitive sheet was published in 1566. It's composed of printed paper flaps that, when lifted, reveal the internal organs of the figure. Medical illustrations like this allowed physicians to see the body in various stages of dissection.
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Follow #MuseumInstaSwap on @Instagram to discover the stories 10 London museums are sharing: http://t.co/EYUe7XWTse
http://t.co/7PCUExfYYn.
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This magnificent 16th century medicine chest contains 126 bottles and pots for drugs, some of which still have their original contents including some lesser known remedies such as rhubarb powder, ointment for worms, juniper water and mustard oil.
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On a summerâs day in 2013, an artist called Audrey Amiss died alone in her south London flat, aged 79. She documented the last day of her life by pasting some food packaging into a scrapbook, and recording the things she noticed in her final hours. đ§ľ
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We invite challenges to our thinking and we listen to our audience, which is why weâve taken the decision to remove the word womxn from our website and communications about the Daylighting event. Weâre sorry that we made the wrong call.
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Today your heart will beat around 100,000 times, pumping 9,000 ltrs of blood through a circulatory system 60,000 miles long #WorldHeartDayâ¤ď¸
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Before antibiotics, syphilis unleashed centuries of misery, countered by desperate but largely useless remedies. With the spread of syphilis shockingly on the rise again, Dr Kate Lister @WhoresofYore takes a graphic look at how our forbears suffered.
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When a woman discloses that sheâs autistic the reaction is often dismissal or denial, but in this insightful and moving series of portraits and interviews by photographer @RosieBarnesFoto, voices and experiences are heard.
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Children's drawings from the past - when we're lucky enough to find them preserved like this - remind us that whatever else is going on, there have always been kids around doing kid things: playing, learning, copying, reimagining.
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Weâve acquired these books as a record of what itâs like to live with mental illness. You can explore the catalogue of the archive on our website, or read more about the process of caring for Audrey's archive:.
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Just a flying phallic amulet. Nothing to see here.
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A serene space in the heart of London with free wifi, plenty of desk space and comfy sofas to lounge in. With over 1,000 books our Reading Room is a place where you can read, work, meet friends or just chill out. And itâs open to everyone!
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These cufflinks contain pictures of two different strains of plague-causing bacteria discovered in 1894, the names of which are engraved on the back. Itâs believed that they were made by FabergĂŠ, the celebrated Russian jeweller.
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To prevent the Black Death spreading in the 14th century, all ships thought to be infected were isolated for 40 days to prevent the spread of the disease. In fact, the word quarantine comes from the Italian quaranta giorni, meaning â40 daysâ.
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A woman's story of pain is one of being told her agony is normal, perhaps exaggerated or even imagined.
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A skeleton, warning of the dangers of fornication, lifts up the hem of her dress as a parody of seduction c.1680 #FolkloreThursday
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Quarantine was once the only tool in the fight against infectious disease. As countries across the globe move towards isolation to stop the spread of Coronavirus, the role of quarantine, even in todayâs world of vaccines and antibiotics, is once again proving highly effective.
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What influences do buildings have on your physical and mental health? This is the subject of our new major exhibition, 'Living with Buildings'. From Dickensian slums to high-rise towers we chart the impact of architecture on our health and wellbeing.
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You'll never look at chalk the same way again.
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It's #NationalCurryWeek so here's a picture of a skeleton because WE DON'T CHANGE WHO WE ARE FOR TRENDING HASHTAGS.
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Happy #InternationalCatDay! Here's a GIF made from Eadweard Muybridge's photo study of cat locomotion in the 1800s. http://t.co/dv9HDzobsq.
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A recent survey of people aged 23-36 revealed that nearly 30% would avoid hugging a person who is HIV-positive. This is unacceptable. So letâs end the stigma and share the facts. #WorldAIDSDay
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Before the use of insulin in 1922 diabetes was a deadly disease. The only hope those diagnosed with it had to prolong their life was, paradoxically, to be on a diet which took them to the very edge of starvation. #WorldDiabetesDay
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We donât think anyone should be excluded from visiting museums and galleries. So today, rather than telling you about all the cool stuff in our newest exhibition, In Plain Sight, we want to show you the space instead. đ§ľ.
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Love them or loathe them, face coverings have been used to protect us from all sorts of harmful material in the air for a very long time. [Thread] #facecoverings #facemask
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We want to change that. We want to do better. And we invite you to help us get there. Tell us: what's the point of museums?
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Charles Darwin was a keen walker, believing a good stroll provided a perfect opportunity to think through problems. This skull pommel with green glass eyes is part of Darwin's Whalebone walking stick, on display in our Medicine Man gallery. #DarwinDay
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These life-size realistic chocolate hearts from the @TheEdibleMuseum give a whole new meaning to la dolce vita. Approved of by Medical Doctors, Horror fans and Romantics alike. Buy them from @ShopWellcome while stocks last! #ValentinesDay
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SĂĄndor Vay was a famous Hungarian writer. And, in modern terms, was assigned female at birth. He was born a girl with the female name Sarolta, but lived the life of an aristocratic man in 19th-century Hungary. 1/6đ§ľ
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Do you fantasise about giving up work? For the rest of your life, just eating, drinking and making merry?. Medieval peasants dreamt the same dream, they even gave it a name: the land of Cockaigne.
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We have a lot of books in our collection. Not all of them are Pulitzer Prize winners. But we love them all the same đđđ
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It's International Day of Sign Languages! This engraving illustrates the sign language alphabetđđżđ¤đźđđ˝âđżđđž This image is probably from the 19th or very early 20th century, but sign language has been around in an official format since the 16th century! #SignLanguagesDay
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She filled over 1000 books in this way: 854 sketchbooks, 234 scrapbooks and photo albums, 47 account books, 37 record books and 16 log books.
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This 18th century European Vanitas features many symbols typical for this kind of object, such as a skull and insects that feast on decaying flesh. You can see this beautiful reminder of death in our Medicine Man gallery.
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We canât change our past. But we can work towards a future where we give voice to the narratives and lived experiences of those who have been silenced, erased and ignored.
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The Anglo-Saxon name for February was Sol-Monath which roughly means 'the month of cakes'. BRING BACK THE PAST NOW!
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You're not too sensitive. You just feel the amount you feel.
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Doctors in the 19th century viewed female masturbation as an abnormal practice that could cause insanity or even kill. Dr Kate Lister of @WhoresofYore looks at the brutal remedies that went to surprising extremes for the sake of a 'cure'.
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Bodies can be embarrassing. Your nose bleeds. You defecate blood by a tree. You vomit in front of a disappointed-looking pig. People have always had these problems: so next time they happen to you, think of these gentle, unselfconscious 17th century Europeans and feel less alone
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Did you know medieval theologians recommended beans to cure impotence, as they believed an erection was caused by air inflating the penis! Yes, history has proved a very bumpy ride for the demon rod. Kate Lister from @WhoresofYore takes a closer look.
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- Yarr, I was a pirate but they kicked meowt .- Garr! What for?.- Mewtiny!.#TalkLikeAPirateDay
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In 14th-century London, Church leaders discovered how to make a tidy income from sex workers. Kate Lister from @WhoresofYore explains how this contradictory state of affairs came about.
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Queen Elizabeth I used to honour visiting guests and ambassadors by presenting them with their likenesses created out of gingerbread, a custom that led to our modern gingerbread figures. Here's a no-bake 15th century 'gyngerbrede' recipe to try at home (if you can read it!)
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Happy #NationalDogDay! This etching called 'The Dog of the Convent' shows a rescue dog carrying a small child on its back to a hospice. Here's to all the rescue and service dogs out there doing brilliant work every day and helping us humans stay safe and healthy! đśđđŠ
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Look at this stuff, isn't it neat? Wouldn't you think Wellcome Collection's complete?
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It's official! Weâll be reopening our doors to the public on 7 October 2020. Stay tuned for more information about our new programme, and the safety measures we'll take to protect you, which will be announced soon. We can't wait to welcome you back! đđď¸đĽłđđ
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How did you avoid catching the plague? .Smoke constantly. Carry a sponge soaked in vinegar. Hang oranges studded with cloves around your house. This was the best medical advice available c.1665, as the Great Plague ravaged London. #MuseumFromHome
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Darling of 19th-century American 'freak shows', Evatima Tardo remained serene as she withstood crucifixion and the bites of poisonous snakes. But she took the secret behind her abilities to her grave.
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What's your favourite "getting me through this" thing right now?
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Top 6 things to shrink and keep prisoner in an alchemical flask:. 1. Fox.2. Raven.3. Boyfriend.4. Dove.5. Ghost of a dove.6. Ex-boyfriend
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Early 17th century allegorical print showing Truth being attacked by tradition, persecution, superstition, violence and betrayal. Not much changed then.
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Meet six extraordinary figures in the history of medicine that youâve probably never heard of, whose contributions range from discovering the causative agent of syphilis to advancing techniques for the study of living cells. Portraits by artist Sam Falconer. [THREAD]
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But by exhibiting these items together â the very fact that theyâve ended up in one place â the story we told was that of a man with enormous wealth, power and privilege. And the stories we neglected to tell were those that we have historically marginalised or excluded.
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Statement on the closure of our Medicine Man gallery.
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During his life Edward Lovett (1852-1933) amassed a huge collection of objects mostly relating to his passion for folklore, charms, amulets and superstitions. #InternationalMuseumDay #IMD2018 #welovett #wehaveacharmforthat [THREAD]
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Surprisingly, this method of reviving the dead was common in the second half of the 18th century. In 1774 the Royal Humane Society - literally named The Society of the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned - was set up after 123 people had drowned in London the previous year.
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That day, she ate a Cornetto ice cream and a Sainburyâs fruit sponge pudding â this was the final entry in her scrapbook. Audrey spent her whole life documenting her world like this â all in astonishing detail.
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How could you avoid catching the Black Death? Some of the best medical advice from c.1665 included smoking constantly, carrying a sponge soaked in vinegar and hanging oranges studded with cloves around your house.
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Are you ill or simply. in love? Sometimes it can be hard to tell. It's no wonder lovesickness was for centuries considered a very real disease. [THREAD] 1/11
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Join us in this five-part serial as we dive into Audreyâs life, works and legacy. In this first article, Carter looks at how this incredible archive found its way to Wellcome Collection.
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Other approaches to apparent drowning included rubbing the skin and blood-letting. The only thing the unfortunate patient could be thankful for was that they were very likely dead or unconscious when these indignities were performed.
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In the 19th century womenâs prisons focused on restoring female and maternal qualities. Women required saving twice, first from their criminality and then from their deviance from anticipated female behaviour. These expectations had consequences.
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Culture is brain food. Culture is broccoli that tastes nice. Culture is the foam on life's latte. Culture makes you laugh and cry and look smart at parties. Get some culture. #ArtsHealthWellbeing
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The wonderfully hirsute Barbara van Beck, 17th century businesswoman and all-round celebrity!
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Male masturbation has had a chequered past, characterised by shame and disapproval. But, as Kate Lister @WhoresofYore reveals, recent scientific discoveries could begin to confer respectability on solitary self pleasure.
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Weâve closed our doors for now, and weâre already missing you. But we are still here online. Physical distance doesn't have to mean social distance. So we want to hear from you! What would you like to see and hear from us? What can we do for you during these unprecedented times?.
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This human eye model dates from 1870 and was made from papier mâchÊ and glass by French physician Dr. Louis Auzoux. His models were designed to be 'dissectable' and this eye opens up into three detachable parts. You can see the opened eye at @sciencemuseum
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This is an early form of pop-up book from the 1500s. Itâs called a fugitive sheet because the flaps (which can be lifted to reveal the insides of a personâs anatomy), were often torn or misplaced over time đđ¨. 1/4
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Jason being vomited from dragon of Colchis's mouth after it had received a drug from Athena, 5th B.C. #MuseumDragons
http://t.co/mkKL4hqjLk.
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Friday đ . Alt text: This manuscript illustration from 1491 shows a baby being born from a plant. The baby has hands like sock-puppets and a hopeful little smile.
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What does it mean to be 'skilled' or 'unskilled' and who decides?
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This remarkably life-like wax head from the 19th century, complete with eyelashes, shows the internal structure of skull, eye and face muscles. Wax models like these were often used for teaching anatomy to medical students or as part of popular anatomy shows.
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We tried to do this with some of the pieces in Medicine Man using artist interventions. But the display still perpetuates a version of medical history that is based on racist, sexist and ableist theories and language.
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I am a sex historian and post historical titbits such as this on Twitter and Instagram as @WhoresofYore and have had both accounts suspended because of âinappropriate contentâ. Thankfully, I was able to appeal on both occasions. But, I am one of the lucky ones. 13/17
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