Accession No
5797
Brief Description
papier mâché anatomical model of a foetus (non-sexual), by Louis Thomas Jérôme Auzoux, French, 1914
Origin
France; Saint-Aubin-d'Écrosville [attributed]
Maker
Auzoux, Louis Thomas Jérôme
Class
demonstration; biology
Earliest Date
1900
Latest Date
1920
Inscription Date
1914
Material
paper (papier mâche); metal
Dimensions
length 410mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Purchased from Trevor Philip & Sons Ltd, 75A Jermyn Street, St. James', London, SW1Y 6NP, from 16/05/2000.
Inscription
Description Notes
Papier mache anatomical model of a foetus (non-sexual), by Auzoux, French, 1914
Umbilical cord joins joins the foetus to a placenta. Torso is removable and exposes internal organs. Six pieces are removable. The heart (with aorta (divides in to left and right ventricles)), the liver with kidneys , gall bladder and renal artery, left lung, right lung, larger intestines and finally the diaphragm. The small intestines, and the stomach are missing. When the organs are removed the cavity exposed shows the spinal column, the trachea, the rib cage and assorted muscle groups.
The Foetal circulation is labelled with numbers (black type on white circular labels). Where they can be assembled and disassembled labels show a pointing hand and a number (the number gives the order in which to assemble and disassemble).
References
Anna Maerker; 'Foetus models'; Explore Whipple Collections online article; Whipple Museum of the History of Science; University of Cambridge; 2008: https://www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whipple-collections/models/dr-auzouxs-papier-mache-models/foetus-models
Events
Description
As a medical student in Paris, Louis Thomas Jérôme Auzoux (1797–1880) noticed there was a shortage of human remains for doing dissections: an important part of medical training. He developed a special papier-mâché mixture (containing cork and clay as well as paper and glue), and began producing sturdy and inexpensive models that could be taken apart piece by piece. Before this, anatomical models had been made only of wax, which were expensive and fragile. With financial support from the French state, Auzoux established a factory for producing anatomical models in his small hometown of St. Aubin d'Ecrosville. His models became a commercial success and were used by schools, universities and hospitals, as well as by private individuals who could rent models at low costs. This model is of a foetus. The torso is removable and exposes the internal organs. Six organs can be removed from the torso: the heart, the liver with kidneys, the gall bladder and renal artery, the left and right lungs, the large intestines and the diaphragm. The small intestines and stomach are missing. When the organs are removed the cavity exposed shows the spinal column, the trachea, the rib cage and assorted muscle groups.
18/02/2014
Created by: Allison Ksiazkiewicz on 18/02/2014
FM:46203
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