THE PAST DISSECTED

The Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons, which reopened in February 2005, provides visitors with a chance to see the equipment used for the first 'keyhole' gall bladder removal in England, preserved crocodile embryos, and a prototype 'bionic' heart, among more than 3500 fascinating exhibits.

At the heart of the Hunterian Museum is an astonishing 18th-century medical collection – the legacy of the groundbreaking anatomist and surgeon John Hunter FRS (1728–1793). He built up an extensive museum, which he used for teaching and for research on topics as diverse as the transplantation of teeth and the breeding of bees. After his death, the collection was given to the Royal College of Surgeons.

The museum is open to the public, free of charge, Tuesday to Saturday – or virtual tours can be undertaken on the Royal College of Surgeons website.

The refurbishment of the Hunterian Museum was funded by the Wellcome Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Royal College of Surgeons, the Hunterian Trustees and others.