Southern California Medical Museum: Celebrating modern medicine by exploring the history of healing
By Alison Elsner For DMHN Setting aside the uncertainties over the future of health care coverage, there are some constants that we can not only focus on, but also heartily celebrate. Today we are fortunate to live in a period and culture of tremendous sophistication in the field of medicine. Most of these developments, marvels of modern medicine, would have been considered science fiction or at least
impossibilities just a few decades ago. Treatments like 3-D printing to create prosthetic limbs and heart valves, NeuroPace brain sensors to stop seizures in their tracks, proton therapy to fight cancer, a new miracle drug to knock out Hep-C and dozens of others are restoring quality of life as well as survival rates for populations in America and across the globe. With this perspective in mind, it’s clear that the Southern California Medical Museum (SCMM) unravels
a fascinating journey back in time. It presents us with jaw-dropping medical treatments, tools, and accepted practices of yesteryear, many of which were noteworthy, some of which were completely contrary to modern sanitation and successful healing and a few which were outright quackery. Understanding our past helps us appreciate our present, and visiting this Museum is a powerful way to ratchet up our own mindfulness of the world around us. The SCMM houses a treasure trove
of fascinating medical, dental and pharmacy artifacts, wartime surgery kits, impressive medical artwork and photographs, rare and antique bottles used to hold and dispense salves, pills, powders and elixirs, hard to believe quackery devices and numerous special exhibits. There is even a lifelike diorama re-creation of a doctor and dentist’s office as it would have appeared during the 1910 - 1930’s here in the United States. Museum displays and exhibits Continues on page 3 >>
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