Cushing/Whitney Medical Library Historic Instruments CollectionThe Historical Library of the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library holds a large collection of antique medical instruments and related objects. These materials were acquired over the years entirely through donation.
Although the collection includes a few Roman, Chinese and seventeenth and eighteenth century objects, most are nineteenth and early twentieth century. Many of the objects were the property of Yale Medical faculty and graduates, a number of whom practiced in Connecticut. An important collection of obstetrical instruments was donated by Yale obstetrician Dr. Herbert Thoms. There are included, also, a number of elegantly made surgical instrument kits. Collections of mortars, pestles, apothecary jars and paper wrapped pharmaceuticals await more exact identification. The online collection represents only part of the larger collection.