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Kill or Cure? A Taste of Medicine

Kill or Cure? A Taste of Medicine

From the influence of the stars and the phases of the moon, to healing chants and prayers, to the knife-wielding barber-surgeon and game-changing scientific experiments, Kill or Cure? takes you behind the curtain of western medicine’s macabre history.

PAST EXHIBITION
Exhibition
Saturday 30 July 2022 to Sunday 22 January 2023

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Admission: Free
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Location

Kill or Cure? A Taste of Medicine

From the influence of the stars and the phases of the moon, to healing chants and prayers, to the knife-wielding barber-surgeon and game-changing scientific experiments, Kill or Cure? takes you behind the curtain of western medicine’s macabre history.

Explore our many treatment rooms with instruments that will make your skin crawl. Hear quack doctors spruiking dangerous cures from behind the interactive walls. Meet the bloodletting man and learn why veins were opened to restore health. 

The Library’s extensive rare books collection reveals some of the powerful and enduring ideas from western medicine that have since been debunked, and those we take for granted today. 

How far would you go to feel better?

Margarita philosophica noua : cui insunt sequentia {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/margarita-philosophica-noua-cui-insunt-sequentia","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL20190882?itok=jZoSbwgR","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL20190882?itok=AZkk4S2Y","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL20190882?itok=jZoSbwgR","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL20190882?itok=AZkk4S2Y","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL20190882?itok=LYBB9UY9","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL20190882?itok=zEDvsrL-","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL20190882?itok=QAYOdOLW"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL20190882&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"3996","height":"5000"}
1512
Gregor Reisch
Call # SC/1005
Digital ID: 
n/a
View collection item detail
Systême anatomique
Systême anatomique {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/systeme-anatomique","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0012_m.jpg?itok=smmdISLd","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0012_m.jpg?itok=BBtJNQ6t","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0012_m.jpg?itok=smmdISLd","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0012_m.jpg?itok=BBtJNQ6t","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/public\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0012_m.jpg?itok=aPM9eHmU","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/public\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0012_m.jpg?itok=owTg5c4N","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/public\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0012_m.jpg?itok=-NeBuflN"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0012_m.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":5652,"height":7461}
1792-1830
Hippolyte Cloquet
Call # RB/DQ034/10 (SET)
Digital ID: 
n/a
View collection item detail
Saunders physiognomie, and chiromancie
Saunders physiognomie, and chiromancie {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/saunders-physiognomie-and-chiromancie","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/e60542_0003_m.jpg?itok=EO9X4srD","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/e60542_0003_m.jpg?itok=JIpN-qOe","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/e60542_0003_m.jpg?itok=EO9X4srD","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/e60542_0003_m.jpg?itok=JIpN-qOe","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/public\/e60542_0003_m.jpg?itok=SddKQusS","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/public\/e60542_0003_m.jpg?itok=rHvpgXqa","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/public\/e60542_0003_m.jpg?itok=t96xIV27"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/e60542_0003_m.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":5498,"height":8025}
1671
Richard Saunders
Call # RICHARDSON/ 291
Digital ID: 
n/a
View collection item detail
Medical botany : containing systematic and general descriptions, with plates of all the medicinal plants, indigenous and exotic
Medical botany : containing systematic and general descriptions, with plates of all the medicinal plants, indigenous and exotic {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/medical-botany-containing-systematic-and-general-descriptions-plates-all-medicinal","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/e63886_supergraphic_0001_0.jpg?itok=X-ILRMG6","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/e63886_supergraphic_0001_0.jpg?itok=uAqvyN9z","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/e63886_supergraphic_0001_0.jpg?itok=X-ILRMG6","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/e63886_supergraphic_0001_0.jpg?itok=uAqvyN9z","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/public\/e63886_supergraphic_0001_0.jpg?itok=W5sj3mqI","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/public\/e63886_supergraphic_0001_0.jpg?itok=e1gqeE1m","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/public\/e63886_supergraphic_0001_0.jpg?itok=MJbqD1rq"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/e63886_supergraphic_0001_0.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":2000,"height":3148}
1810
William Woodville
Call # RB/DS581.63/6
Digital ID: 
n/a
View collection item detail
Holloway's ointment dispensing pot
Holloway's ointment dispensing pot {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/holloways-ointment-dispensing-pot","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/e63889_0002.jpg?itok=hzPtF_aN","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/e63889_0002.jpg?itok=MsABfpx5","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/e63889_0002.jpg?itok=hzPtF_aN","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/e63889_0002.jpg?itok=MsABfpx5","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/public\/e63889_0002.jpg?itok=SAq8j2DE","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/public\/e63889_0002.jpg?itok=wBRO7sxZ","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/public\/e63889_0002.jpg?itok=SBLFpCNL"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/e63889_0002.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":2000,"height":2000}
c 1860
Call # R 762
Digital ID: 
n/a
View collection item detail
Bloodletting man, Feldtbůch der Wund Artzney
Bloodletting man, Feldtbůch der Wund Artzney {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/bloodletting-man-feldtbuch-der-wund-artzney","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/kill_or_cure_exhibition_-_2021_e55893_0009_m.jpg?itok=T9p7WZby","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/kill_or_cure_exhibition_-_2021_e55893_0009_m.jpg?itok=hXA3-kDx","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/kill_or_cure_exhibition_-_2021_e55893_0009_m.jpg?itok=T9p7WZby","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/kill_or_cure_exhibition_-_2021_e55893_0009_m.jpg?itok=hXA3-kDx","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/public\/kill_or_cure_exhibition_-_2021_e55893_0009_m.jpg?itok=VZvKNHRA","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/public\/kill_or_cure_exhibition_-_2021_e55893_0009_m.jpg?itok=LCuoTbYP","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/public\/kill_or_cure_exhibition_-_2021_e55893_0009_m.jpg?itok=n9VrqNhB"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/kill_or_cure_exhibition_-_2021_e55893_0009_m.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":2000,"height":2839}
1540
Hans Von Gersdorff
Call # MRB/Q617.99/G (16th Century)
Digital ID: 
n/a
View collection item detail
Systême anatomique
Systême anatomique {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/systeme-anatomique-0","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0002_m.jpg?itok=XJGC0ePb","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0002_m.jpg?itok=_-HazKuD","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0002_m.jpg?itok=XJGC0ePb","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0002_m.jpg?itok=_-HazKuD","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/public\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0002_m.jpg?itok=XTWHSpGI","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/public\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0002_m.jpg?itok=xB3uPzYI","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/public\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0002_m.jpg?itok=rSqR1Nhf"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/kill_or_cure_e55897_0002_m.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":2000,"height":2684}
1792-1830
Hippolyte Cloquet
Call # RB/DQ034/10 (SET)
Digital ID: 
n/a
View collection item detail

Exhibition Credits

Meet the curator

Elise Edmonds with open book

Elise Edmonds

Elise is a senior curator at the State Library of New South Wales. She has curated several exhibitions highlighting the Library’s nationally significant First World War collections; Life Interrupted: personal diaries from World War I in 2014, Colour in Darkness: images from the First World War in 2016 and Quick March! The Children of World War One in 2019. Her most recent exhibition, Dead Central – an immersive, audio experience, told the story of the Devonshire Street Cemetery, where Central Station now stands. She contributed to and narrated two podcast series, The Burial Files in 2019 and The Gatherings Order in 2020.

All well & good

by Elise Edmonds

Twenty-first-century notions of wellness have a long lineage.

Medical botany : containing systematic and general descriptions
Show more