Museum of wax moulages, Medical wax model museum at University of Zurich, Switzerland.
The Museum of Wax Moulages holds over 1800 anatomical models made from wax, showing different skin conditions and medical states. About 600 of these pieces are currently displayed in the museum space at the University of Zurich.
The collection started in 1916 when Professor Bruno Bloch, the first dermatology professor at the University of Zurich, began making wax models for medical training. These models were expanded over many years and became a standard teaching tool.
These wax models show how doctors once recorded skin diseases and injuries before photography and digital images existed. For medical students, these objects were an important tool to learn about rare cases or conditions that were hard to observe directly.
The museum is open without charge on Wednesdays from 2 PM to 6 PM and Saturdays from 1 PM to 5 PM. It is located on the university campus at Haldenbachstrasse 14, making it convenient to reach by public transport.
This collection is the second largest of its kind worldwide, with only the Musée des Moulages in Saint-Louis, France, having more pieces. Many visitors are surprised to learn that skilled craftspeople handmade these valuable models with remarkable precision.
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