Collections

The Science Museum has a permanent display on the 5th floor relating to the practice of traditional medicines. One section deals with aspects of Islamic Medicine.

Individual objects on show range from the 7th to the 19th century. They include earthenware drug jars and glass bottles. There are lancets, scissors and knives from 18th century Persia, a bronze mortar from the Middle East (1500 - 1800), and divination bowls from 19th century Palestine and Egypt. There's a pottery spitoon from 11th or 12th century Syria. A number of these objects are decorated, and intended to be attractive as well as useful. There's also a reconstruction of a blood letting device, described by Al-Jazari in his "Book of Knowledge and Ingenious Mechanical Devices" AD 1204 - 06.

Hence the collection gives an overview of how medicine developed in the Islamic world over 1000 years and dozens of countries.