RCSI Heritage Collections

Rolled up x-ray prints While wandering through the archives just before the Christmas holidays, the two rolled up bundles shown above caught our attention. Written on one of the bundles was the word 'X-rays' while on the other one can make ' Mauser in abdomen...' On returning from the holidays it was decided to investigate further. And what a belated Christmas present we found! All together there are 28 x-ray prints in fairly good condition. Not only that, the majority of them have details about the injury shown in the x-ray, where it happened, when it happened and how it happened written on the back. An archivist's delight! So when are the majority of these x-ray prints from you ask?? Black Week (10-17 December 1899) of the Second Boer War  The first print to be unfurled was the one with 'Mauser' written on it. The handwritten note states 'Mauser in abdomen - lodged in front colon - localised and extracted'. The print itself is below ...

While out in the field military medics needed concise and to the point medical reference books. Step forward the Oxford War Primers and  Military Medical Manuals series. These books were produced as an aid to all medical personnel who were working under the harshest condition during wartime. The Oxford War Primers were printed during the First World War by Oxford University Press. They contained much-needed medical information for those in the field. They were small, easy to transport and hard wearing. Some of the topics covered by these practical books can be seen below The Military Medical Manual were produced under the guardianship of Sir Alfred Keogh, Director-General of the Medical Services of the British Army. Keogh was born in Dublin on 3rd July 1857. He studied at Queen's College, Galway and Guy's Hospital London qualifying M.D., M.Ch., R.U.I from the Royal University of Ireland in 1878. Keogh joined the army as a surgeon in 1880 and...