Duke University History of Medicine Collections

The History of Medicine Collections has been the fortunate recipient of medical artifacts and prints from the collection of George D. Wilbanks, MD (T'53, M'56, HS'57-'62) and Evelyn Rivers Wilbanks, PhD (G'56). The collection, which is quite broad with some focus on obstetrics and gynecology and surgery, was assembled over a period of forty-four years and given to the Medical Library in stages during the past five years. The Wilbanks characterized the purpose of the collection in their gift letter.

In general these are study tools for not only history of medicine
students but also students who are studying what were effective
methods of treatment, i.e., pharmacy, home medicines, etc.

We have selected just a small sample of their gift of almost 300 objects for exhibit. Among the items on display are baby bottles, infant or invalid feeders, a copper apothecary boiler, a doctor's medical saddlebag, a Culpeper-style microscope in a wooden case, bleeding devices, ear trumpets, pill-making equipment, obstetrical forceps, a domestic medicine chest, and an Oxygenkure. The exhibit will be available through the middle of September and can be viewed in the lower lobby whenever the Medical Library is open.

Upon his retirement, Dr. F. Bayard Carter, first chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, gave this female pelvis to Dr. Wilbanks for continued use in classes.

(Left) Made for a private household, this medicine chest (ca. 1840) is mahogany with brass fittings and contains glass bottles, a scale, a mortar and pestle, and a measuring cup. (Right) Similar in style to a present day fondue pot, this 19th century lidded copper apothecary boiler was used to slowly simmer herbal preparations. The nickel cylinder held the fuel. The level of the flame was regulated by the knob on the brass base.

This late 19th century American wood and brass pill-rolling machine could produce 24 pills of one size at a time. The rolled pill mass, or pill pipe, was placed on the brass grooves, then the paddle-shaped portion was pressed down on top of the pipe and moved back and forth to form round pills.

An American pharmaceutical advertising card from the 19th or early 20th century.

"The Doctor" Royal Doulton plate (ca. 1925)

Pap boats or infant feeders were in use from the late 17th through the 19th centuries. The vessels were used to administer "pap" to an infant or an adult invalid. Pap was a piece of bread soaked in wine with meal and sugar added. For the infant, the nurse occasionally pre-chewed the mixture.

Photos: Beverly Murphy