Soc 490 Museum of the Mind/Medical Arts

Over the past few weeks in Soc 490, we have been taking about whether health care is a right or a privilege and whether the United states should provide it to their citizens based on the results from other countries. This past week we went to the Museum of the mind. This museum was in an old psychiatric hospital that was open for about 60 or so years. Yesterday we went to the Museum of Medical Arts. This museum housed different tools and instruments that were used during medical procedures in the past. Although these museums are different they both gave us a look into history.

The museum of the mind was interesting to see because there were different rooms that were set up as they were when the hospital was functional. There was a room where patients would sit to get their pictures taken, one for them to sit in silence, and another where they rock back and forth. While rocking back in forth in the chair we were able to use an interaction module to hear the different stories of the patients that came to this hospital. Most of the patients who came did not have any psychiatric problems they just simply had a learning disability or were homeless or were in an orphanage. By staying in the hospital for months these patients tended to gain psychiatric problems. It was interesting to see a room where patients who imposed danger were kept because there were ropes attached to the beds to tie a patient down. These patients started to then act like animals and pee in the bed since they constantly needed assistance to do simple everyday tasks. During a documentary film a nurse admitted that they would give patients sleeping pills in order for them to be silent.

The museum of Medical Arts gave a completely different vibe. At first it was cool because I didn’t know what to expect but then we stepped further into the museum. The first thing I saw were babies in containers that had been preserved. These babies were born with defects or were still borns. It was gross to see the babies features but it was also sad because the babies never had a chance at life. After the babies we saw a display of the different ways a baby could be positioned in the fetus. I realized that there are many dangerous ways a baby can be positioned that can harm their life. Professor Mustafaga explained to us that in most cases the doctor would have to rotate or fix the baby by hand in order for there to be a safe delivery. There was also no anesthetics at this time so a woman felt every movement. The next rooms in the museum housed the different medical tools used during that time. I’m just glad to say we’ve come a long way since then. Most tools were long and sharp and seemed like they would hurt more than they actually helped. After seeing the different tools and things that go into medical care I am glad I don’t have to look at things like that everyday because it would certainly make me sick!