What's On at The John Rylands Library.

22 Jan 2009

Histories of Healing: Celebrating 175 years of the Manchester Medical Society.

The Manchester Medical Society was founded on 29 January 1834 to provide local doctors with a library to help advance knowledge and skill. Over the past 175 years this collection has developed into one of the UKs most important resources for the study of the development of medicine, with books dating from the 1480s onwards.

A wide range of books from this fascinating collection are exhibited - including works by Ambroise Paré and Claude Bernard – alongside displays which include photographs and historical instruments.

Members of the Society have been involved in many innovations which have improved both public health and living conditions.

The material in this exhibition has been brought together to tell some of the stories of the institutions and people who have contributed to the history of healing in the North West.

Also on display in this exhibition is 'Ancoats Hospital Outpatients' Hall' by L S Lowry, on loan from the Whitworth Art Gallery. This painting dates from 1952 and is Lowry's only privately commissioned work.