The Mütter Museum: Of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia

by Gretchen Worden

Home to over 20,000 mind-boggling anatomic specimens, plaster casts, wax models, and paintings, the Mutter Museum, founded in 1858, is part of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. This book features over 100 photographs by a select group of renowned photographers whose work appears in the award-winning Mutter Museum calendars. Highlights include a bust of an early-19th-century Parisian widow with a six-inch horn protruding from the forehead; the connected livers of Chang and Eng, the world-famous Siamese twins; the skeleton of a 7’6” giant from Kentucky; and a collection of 139 skulls showing anatomic variation among ethnic groups in central and eastern Europe. Historical photographs from the museum’s archives, brief background texts about the collection, stunning photographs by acclaimed photographers including William Wegman and Joel-Peter Witkinand, and an introductory essay on the museum are also included.

Genres: Nonfiction, Photography, Science, History, Art, Medical, Death

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 2002

Reviews

[Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered the Mutter Museum in the 1990s because of the lovely morbid calendars my local bookshop sold. The calendars featured amazing, thought-provoking photographs by Joel-Peter Witkin, Rosamond Purcell, and Arne Svenson, taken in the collection of the medical museum. Those incredible photos, in all their glory, are assembled in this book.

Unfortunately, the calendar photos by William Wegman are included, too. The inclusion of the dogs mocking the pose of Chang and Eng's post-autopsy death masks or stuffing their heads into a pelvis still strikes me as disrespectful to a shocking degree.

The text that captions each photo is full of fascinating information, though: enough so that it makes me want to return to the museum. The essay that introduces the museum could have easily been longer. The essays at the back of the book that detail items in the museum's collection was far and away my favorite part, even though I love the photographs as well. My only complaint is that the final section wasn't longer. I want to know about everything the museum owns.

[Mark Desrosiers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right, here's where things get artsy: Wegman's dog eating out of a pelvis, noir angles of Chang and Eng's plaster casts, etc. Some of these assemblages are pretty fun, but others are a load of wank. I mean, really, did you need to wrap that cylinder of "tanned human skin" (used to help "plan surgical incisions") around some tattooed fellow's head? And what's with the "Christmas Brain"? Red lid, yellowy brain, green brain solution? That's what passes for aesthetic wit now?

I prefer the authentic period photos and objects here, which will dry your mouth out, or cause it to salivate (depending on your temperament) (I alternated). Varicose veins of the scalp, Osteitis Deformans (with a fig leaf), forensic facial reconstructions, Civil War surgical kit, toes as big as footballs. Goiters. Horns. Face slices.

It's such a thin line between clever and stoma.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

Attempts at artfulness in this book distract from its value.

[Matte Resist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had considered buying this book, because I couldn't seem to find it anywhere to take a look at it... but read some pretty terrible reviews of it. Then I was able to get it on an interlibrary loan. For the most part, I think the book does a good job of showcasing some of the pieces at the Mutter Museum (at least for someone who hasn't been there yet.) However, some of the attempts at artistry are just annoying. I didn't need to see the photographer's? dog with it's face in a pelvis or it's foot on a jar. Nor did I need to see some hairy chest dude wearing a piece of flesh on his face. Some of the pictures are just straight up reproductions of old photos, others are artfully composed displays of museum artifacts, and then there are ones that are an attempt at artful composition but which obscure the subject matter either through blurring it or cropping. The book is mostly pictures (focused on diseased and deformed humans) with just short descriptions. There's more detailed information about the museum and it's collections at the front and back of the book. Overall I'd say this book is definitely worth looking at and probably worth purchasing.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my never-ending morbid curiosity, I got this book just to scan the pictures. The conjoined twins are especially fascinating, as are the many wax models of various abnormalities. The book states that the collection used to be used as teaching tools for med students, but modern medicine has replaced much of what is there with sophisticated radiography. Still, it is fascinating to me how much they DID know back then. And how much we know today and, as such, miss the anatomical variety, at least in developed countries.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are thinking that this would show a lot of really ghoulish pictures of body organs you would be wrong. I am sure they have some in their collection but most of the images in here are skeletons, vintage pictures, a few anatomical items specially prepared to be translucent, and a number of wax works. The most amazing things you will see are the wax works. They are superb craftsmanship and they look real. And I mean REAL! Right off of a body real! There is a hand and part of it's arm that you will swear is a real arm but it is wax. I found the write up on the history of these things to be fascinating. The author also tells of how they have still proven relevant for modern medicine in some ways. The background is well written without ever talking down to you are getting overly medical for the layman. If you cannot get to Philadelphia, PA to see the actual museum this is a wonderful starting point to see some of the collection and to understand how it came about in the first place. There are other books out there that have more of the specimens in jars that may not be for the squeamish. this one is a great starting point that you could let anyone ages 15 and up read.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in awe. The artistic approach to some of the photographs taken at the Mutter Museum was immersive and jaw-dropping. The old photographs taken of medical anomalies from the 1860s to 1920s is shocking, yet educational. While the Mutter Museum Collection may not be everyone’s cup of tea, there is a certain sublimeness to the exhibits.

This book will bring you back to humanity. We are human beings. We are special and different. Once we see that inner beauty we all have which consists of a heart, an artery, a leg, our brain: Everything we are composed of is unique and beautiful. Don’t ever forget that. 🫀🫁🧠✋🏻🦵🏻💀

[Kessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this book. It has a wealth of information about certain items and collections at the museum. The images and photos are incredible, but also jarring and melancholy. I don't love the "artistic" license with a dogs foot on top of a jar with a human foot, but to each their own.
If you are interested in Mutter and his Museum, you will love this book.
I devoured it in one session.

[Meghan Portillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some photographs are very interesting, but space was wasted on several exhibits being shown more than once - sometimes more than twice; most of these repetitions aren't really worthy of more than one photograph.

In order to fully appreciate the scanty captions (every picture has a caption but not much of one), more than cursory knowledge of medical terminology is required; otherwise, a medical dictionary would be helpful.

At the risk of showing my ignorance, I thought that the Mutter Museum was almost strictly abnormal medical exhibits. I didn't realize that there were so many graphic examples of human anatomy - hence, the three stars instead of two; this book gives a nicely rounded "tour" of the museum.

If possible, I would strongly suggest checking this book out from a library before buying it without flipping through it.

[Davelowusa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mutter Museum is one of the oddest places I've ever been. Housing the 19th century specimens (mostly medical curiosities) of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the museum seems straight out of the Addams Family. They've got shrunken heads, the Soap Lady, the plaster death cast of Chang and Eng (the Siamese Twins), a colon that stretched to nine feet in length, the thorax of John Wilkes Booth, and all sorts of misshapen skulls, skeletons, and limbs in formaldehyde.

Unfortunately, no photography is permitted, so one must rely on their gift shop. Fortunately, this book does the museum justice.

[Rainboe Sims-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a pictoral journey through the exhibits and artifacts in the Mütter Museum. Highly artistic photographs by various photographers document all aspects of the human body from prosthetic limbs and maps of veins to malformed skeletons and afflicted fetuses. All photos are credited and labeled with the medium of the specimen photographed. When pertinent the medical condition of the specimen is discussed and sometimes the background information as well. This is a very straight- forward medical account of anomalous humans and their internal workings divorced from any myth and lore.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating photographs, this book has a lot of pictures of fetus skeletons which made me feel a little uncomfortable. The early surgical photos of amputees, and bullet wounds make you feel grateful to live in the 21st century.

[Beth Barnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish it had more pictures - the museum itself is cooler, but, still interesting.

[Kristina Coop-a-Loop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book. I finally got to visit the Mutter Museum on my first trip to Philadelphia a few years ago. Loved it. It was creepy and weird and gross. Just my thing.

[Nicole Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonfiction anecdotes about the strange and weird specimens in the Mutter Museum's collection. Plenty of pictures, and a insightful essay by Worden.

[Mr. Shoemaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very creepy photos. Responding to these images would be a good creative writing exercise. The truth is stranger than fiction.

[Sarah Stumphf · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this would have more information about the pictures as far as explaining the ailments and such. Interesting to look at, but not too informative.

[Carolann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ewwww!

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. I seriously want to visit this museum.