My Work Experience- Izzy Tyler

My name is Izzy, and I did my work experience at Worcester’s medical museums because I am interested in medical science and believe that to learn about the future of medicine (like I want to), I need to understand the past.

George Marshall

I did the first half of my work experience at the George Marshall Medical Museum with Ms Louise Price.

I found everyone who worked here to be extremely kind and polite. I did most of my work experience with Ms Louise Price who was incredible the entire time. She made sure everything I did was interesting and directed for me.

We did many activities such as:

-remodeling and refilling the museum apothecary box

-making a display box

-transcribing oral interviews

-working with ideas for social media

-and so much more!

The Infirmary museum

I did the second half of my work experience at the Infirmary Museum with Ms Harriet Hathaway.

It was just Harriet and I over this section and she was so sweet and kind. She would always check on me to make sure I was having fun and was interested in what I was doing.

We did many activities such as:

-condition checking items

-making and testing trails for visitors

-working with ideas for social media

-and even more!

I feel Louise Price and Harriet Hathaway gave me such a well-rounded experience of what I might come across in certain careers. If they gave me something to do, they made sure it was fun and enjoyable. Over this week I have learnt so much from these museums not only about how these jobs are done, but also about the history and culture of our country, medicine and even the buildings we’re in. I had way more fun than I thought I would, and it was an amazing introduction to the working world.

I am extremely grateful to both Louise and Harriet for giving me this wonderful opportunity and ensuring it was a fun experience.

Placement at the Infirmary Museum- Guest blog post by Abigail Cassell, University of Worcester Student

My name is Abigail Cassell. I have undertaken work experience at the Infirmary Museum as part of my studies at the University of Worcester. As I was unsure about my career path post-university, having multiple options to choose from, the opportunity to be placed into a museum setting has been excellent in allowing me to get an insight to the career of a curator. Alongside this, the museum has enabled me to broaden my history knowledge as medical history is not studied on the History course at Worcester. The Infirmary covers a vast range of medical and local history which I am sure will be a great benefit for the future.

During my placement, I have completed a range of many different tasks which have allowed me to get a real grasp of what the industry is like. One task I have completed is condition reports. Reviewing the condition of objects that the museum has within its storeroom, checking for any deterioration within the condition, any missing parts and stating what the object is suitable for (e.g. display or loan). Looking at the hundreds of objects I have been given to choose from was a real eye opener on the medical equipment used within the past. It was interesting to see what different objects were used for and how this has developed from the initial creation to now. One example that springs to mind is a tongue compressor where they have change from being a metal that was sanitised after each use to a one-use wooden stick. However, some medical instruments haven’t overly changed like the Pre-Natal Stethoscope. Modern versions may take a different design but the way they function is the exact same.

Harriet also gave me the opportunity to adapt some of the displays by turning the pages in different books which can be seen throughout the museum. This gave me a real insight into curating and making sure the displays are suitable and look good to the public. Some other tasks I have completed include enhancing the use of the loan box by adding a PowerPoint teachers can use to explain to children what the items are, how they function and how they may have developed into the modern day.

In addition to this, I have assisted Harriet (curator of the Infirmary Museum) with some school tours and created a quiz for the children to work on during their time in the museum on the visit. Furthermore, I have being working on a trail for the museum which will be accessible to any visitors to enhance the engagement of people with the history of the setting and give an opportunity for people to think about things outside of their visit. I used this trail with a group of year 1 and 2s who visited the museum for a tour which I led myself. Another great opportunity and experience given to me by Harriet.

 Overall, I have had a brilliant experience at the museum which is valuable to my career steps when finishing university next year, giving me a great insight into how a curating career would look like. I would encourage people to visit the Infirmary as it is a great place to learn about the advances of medical history but for many people, it is a way of learning about the significance that events that happened so close to home had on the way medical care developed.

Guest Blog by Eleanor Palmer, Student at University of Worcester

My name is Eleanor and I have just completed my work experience at the George Marshall Medical Museum. I am currently doing a history degree at the University of Worcester. As part of my course, I chose to undertake a work experience module, for which I was placed at the George Marshall Medical Museum.

I have always enjoyed visiting museums, but have never had the opportunity to volunteer or work in one before, so this experience was new to me. Previous to my time here, I had little knowledge of medical history, but have discovered through research and looking around the museum that it is a very interesting topic. Whilst at the museum, my knowledge has been broadened and I have had the opportunity to develop a number of skills which will be useful to me in my future. Prior to my placement, I was not set on a career, but having the chance to create resources for the museum to use has opened my eyes to the prospect of working as a Museum Education Officer.

During my time at the museum, I had the opportunity to get involved with a number of exciting projects. For my first project, I was able to create an activity trail for children and families to complete as they walk around and enjoy the displays and information. I included a number of activities ranging from true or false questions and matching the medicine with the cure, to drawing tasks and dressing up. This is now on display at the front of the museum for people to grab on their way in. I found this to be a very enjoyable task, and completing it opened my eyes to the way in which museums can encourage public engagement. It was also rewarding to be able to see my work displayed in the museum ready for people to use and hopefully enjoy.

On completion of this task, I then had the chance to search through the vast collection of handling objects that the museum stores, and created a box with a range of objects, photos, questions, and information sheets relating to the history of healthcare. This box will now be available for community groups and schools to borrow from the museum. Completing this project has enhanced my knowledge of museums and how the public interact with history. I have been able to develop my problem solving skills and have been lucky enough to do tasks which were tailored to my interests surrounding education.

My work experience has opened my eyes to the importance of museums and public history, and highlighted to me that this is something I would be interested in getting involved with in the future. I would recommend undertaking work experience at the Worcester medical museums to anyone interested in history or museum work, as it is very enjoyable whilst providing you with a number of important skills for the future. If you haven’t already visited the museum, please make sure to drop by and have a go at my trail, or simply take in the history that is on offer.

blog by dr. frank crompton: a female patient with epilepsy

Epilepsy and the Worcestershire City and County Pauper Lunatic Asylum

Credit: Iconographie photographique de la Salpêtrière : service de M. Charcot / par Bourneville et P. Regnard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Between 1852 and 1919 there were 269 female patients and 280 male patients who eventually died in the Worcestershire City and County Pauper Lunatic Asylum who had epilepsy. Few of these individuals were said to have died from epilepsy, rather their deaths were from a variety of different causes, including chest infections and heart problems. During this period epilepsy was as an ever-present problem and the Worcestershire City and County Pauper Lunatic Asylum radically altered its approach to treatment, eventually regarding it as incurable. Attempts to use anaesthetics - including chloroform - resulted in undesirable outcomes which worsened a patient’s overall condition. However, the writer believes that humanity was shown by the doctors, nurses, and attendants caring for these patients.  

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FEMALE PATIENTS WITH EPILEPSY

27 female patients under the age of 16 years were committed to the asylum with epilepsy between 1852 and 1919. Annie Pitt was just seven years old when she was admitted in August 1870. She spent over 27 years in the Asylum, eventually dying there in March 1898.

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Two pages of Annie Pitt’s patient;s notes.

Her patient’s notes state that even at the age of seven, she is described as ‘congenitally insane’, and regarded as dangerous to others. She was said to be 'restless, and irritable of temper'. When left, she had wandered into the road and had also stolen items from a neighbour’s house. She is described as undernourished and ill-groomed. She appeared to have sight problems, and was said to be 'dirty in her habits'. She could not talk sensibly and had no ‘intellect’. In spite of this, her physical health was said to be fairly good and within two months, it was decided to return her home. Within a month she returned to the asylum as there had been no improvement in her condition.

One year later, it was stated that she had 'more fits than usual', which left her in an exhausted state so she was confined to bed. She regularly had severe fits, and she was getting even thinner. Sometimes she was described as ‘bright and cheerful’, but she was ‘stupid’, when suffering from fits and was often cut and bruised when she fell. As part of her treatment and in an effort to inhibit her fits, she was given potassium bromide but this treatment failed, and it was said on several occasions that she was ‘at death’s door’ following a fit.

By May 1883, Annie spent much of her time in bed owing to her weakness caused by the fits, and even with slight improvements she was declared ‘mindless’ and the severity of her fits were life-threatening. She was often left exhausted. She was given chloroform to alleviate her condition, but this failed, and she was described as ‘wet and dirty’ - unable to do anything for herself. Sometimes, after fits, she was virtually unable to walk and she frequently fell and bruised her face.

During the summer of 1886, she gained strength, however she still had 'very little mind’. At times she was said to be in a semi-comatose condition, continued to have severe fits and had to be fed by a nurse.

In August 1887, Annie’s fits were still frequent, and severe. She regularly injured herself but still made slight recoveries where she was able to walk about. Sadly, there is then a gap in her notes from until July 1888.

From then, it is stated that while well-nourished she had a ‘highly arched palate’ and she was also showing signs of respiratory problems. Her epilepsy was also described as being of a 'very severe type' and she was often left in a heavy stupor after a fit. There came a point where she was able to make a noise, but was unable to talk and was very ‘dirty’ in her habits. She could not swallow solid food, and was instead fed with 'soft liquids.’ She could not feed herself.

In May 1898, it was said that her fits were frequent and she could hardly lift her head after them. However, she was well nourished and everything was done for her.

In June 1891 she was said to be 'considerably improved physically' but with ‘very little mind’. She could not articulate and had symptoms of ‘brain mischief’. At times she was semi-comatose an could only be roused with extreme difficulty. Her sight was poor.

In December 1882, Annie’s fits were frequent and severe. She was confined to her ward, only getting up for short periods. At this point her notes were transferred to a Case Book (no longer extant).

Annie died on March 8th, 1898.