An Archived World of Medicine

According to our reading, Stephen Greenblat defines wonder as “the power of the displayed object to stop the viewer in his or her tracks, to convey an arresting sense of uniqueness, to evoke an exalted attention.”  He must have left the Mutter Museum when he developed that definition.

The Mutter was filled with archive records of medical oddities that were fascinating.  To believe that this was once an education center for physicians that was used to display rare cases.  Some of the displays allowed me to wonder if they were for education or just for show.  The collection of skulls did not teach me something as much as the tour guide telling us how they came into possession.  Perhaps it is my level and type of education that did not allow me to learn something new because many of the display cases were written for a practicing physician.   

The way items were displayed allows visitors to see the way in which they were stored for later review.  Using embalming methods once thought to be a good preservative now known to be toxic, the condition of the displays allowed for observation by visiting physicians.  They ability of the early collectors and by Dr. Mutter himself (since many of the displays came from his private collection), shows the care put into the archiving process. 

The archiving process is perhaps more important at the Mutter because most of the displays are living tissue.  Unlike the Besty Ross house, or the Franklin Institute, displays there would last years without extensive care.  One room in the Besty Ross house is walled off by glass without the benefit of a vacuum to keep air out preserving the wood and other materials.  That is okay because the items on display are not really archived as it can be replaced by similar items without the knowledge of visitors.  The Mutter does not have the same option because their items are still used by people to do research.

Overall, the Mutter is an interesting museum that those with weak constitutions should avoid but those that enjoy things close to morbid would be entertained.  The ability to take pictures was not allowed, which helps to keep the mystique, as word of mouth is the only means to describe the experience.  The web site is purposely devoid of pictures so that everyone has to experience the place for himself or herself.