HMM Newsletter - No. 13, 1997 ISSN 1036-3041

Diary Dates VICTORIA Information technology workshops The Victorian branch of HMM is planning to hold a series of workshops on effective use of information technology. The first of these was held in November 1997 at the Australian Science Archives Project. Entitled 'WWW and HMM', it was an introduction to using the Internet to explore health and medicine museums and other related sites. The next workshop, early in 1997, will look at computerised documentation of museum collections. For more information contact: Annette McLeod Australian Science Archives Project 203 Bouverie Street Carlton VIC 3053 Tel. 03 9344 9287 Email: asap.melb@asap.unimelb.edu.au 'Quacks, eccentrics and alternative medicine; tales of colonial medicine' This exhibition is the latest in the changing program of displays at the Medical History Museum, Brownless Library, University of Melbourne. Running from 6 August to 10 December 1997, the exhibition features interesting - and sometimes surprising - artefacts from the 19th century. These photographs, advertisements and products represent the era before there were strict controls on proprietary medicines and medical practitioners. It was curated by surgeon and consultant Peter Phillips. Magnetic belts were amongst the plethora of quack remedies available in the 19th century The Microbiological Diagnostic Unit: 100 years of service to public health in Victoria Following Quacks, eccentrics and alternative medicine at the Medical History Museum of the University of Melbourne there will be an exhibition celebrating the centenary of the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit. MDU is involved in both tracing the source of outbreaks and in the prevention of infectious diseases in the community. MDU is a reference centre for public health microbiology which provides laboratory testing and advice. The exhibition provides a background to the circumstances leading to the establishment of the MDU and traces its history through to the present day, The importance of the unit to public health in Victoria is demonstrated by examining the unit's role in tracing the sources of typhoid outbreaks in the late 1940s and in the early 1960s, as well as the recent outbreak of Salmonella food poisoning that was found to be the result if contaminated peanut butter. The exhibition runs from 15 December to March 1998. The Medical History Museum at the University of Melbourne is open Monday to Friday 9-5pm. For enquiries contact: Lisl Bladin Archivist, Medical History Unit University of Melbourne Parkville VIC 3052 Tel. 03 9344 5719 George Bass Bicentenary Celebrations In 1897-98 Naval Surgeon George Bass RN, in an open whaleboat with a crew of six, charted about 482 km of new coastline of what is now known as Victoria. To mark the bicentenary of this journey the South Eastern Historical Association (SEHA) has organised a series of events on Phillip Island in early January 1998. By the time HMM members get this newsletter it will be too late to attend these events, however members will be interested to know that on 3 January a George Bass Exhibition will have been opened in the Cowes Heritage Centre. Enquiries to the President of SEHA Carole Wilson 0359 832073. NEW SOUTH WALES HMM program The NSW branch of HMM has an interesting program for members and friends planned for 1998, although not all dates have been finalised yet. To give you an idea: • Date to be decided. A workshop on Promoting and marketing our museums. • May 1998. Seminar on the history of the Royal Newcastle Hospital and tour of Newcastle Regional Museum, including an exhibition on 'The women of the Royal'. This event will be held in conjunction with the New South Wales Society of the History of Medicine. • December 1998. Visit to the National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour. All people on the NSW mailing list will receive notices of these events. For other enquiries contact: Allison Bartlett Harry Daly Museum Australian Society of Anaesthetists Tel. 02 9327 4022 email: asahalma@ozemail.com.au 'The cutting edge: surgery today' This fascinating display will be presented by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons at the Powerhouse Museum from 2 - 5 May 1998. Surgeons will be staffing a range of booths where museum visitors will be able to learn about the latest developments in surgical techniques. Amongst other highlights there will an ambulance, an army mobile field operating theatre, and the opportunity to have a 'hands-on' try at using 'keyhole' surgery equipment. An exhibit of surgical instruments from the Powerhouse Museum's collection will trace developments in surgery over the past 200 years. 19th century post-mortem set in the collection of the Powerhouse Museum (photograph by Megan Hicks)