Quackery & Discovery

The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh has a collection of Museum in a Box loan kits which are available for loan to schools in Edinburgh and surrounding areas. Our loan kits are designed to be used with students from p5 to S2 and are packed with objects and activities that relate to the medical history of Scotland.  

The Quackery & Discovery box is a challenging collection of objects and archives relating to medical discovery. Many times in history, medical pretenders known as 'quacks' attempted to sell items and objects that appeared to be medical, but were actually useless (or even dangerous) in the healing of an ailing patient.  Students will be required to think critically about whether the objects in this box are a result of medical innovation or quackery. Objects include a ceramic phrenology bust, cupping cups, a bleeding bowl (with a leech!), and a sample of a carbolic suture from the 1800s.

If you would like to receive an email when booking opens, please email us at museum@rcpe.ac.uk.

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