Restore the Musee des Moulages
Donation protected
More information about this campaign and ways to donate can be found at: https://savethemoulages.org
The Hôpital Saint-Louis in Paris, France was a site of origin for the specialty of derrmatology during the 1800's, doctors from all around the world traveled here to learn about skin disease.
The hospital was designed to treat patients with unremitting illnesses, which basically included anyone with a chronic skin condition. Photography was not widely available, so physicians had to have an accurate way that was superior to hand-drawing to record diseases for teaching others.
A moulage is a wax impression taken from a plaster cast made on patients to record and create a library of skin diseases. The wax models were then hand-painted to record all the details of the skin diseases.
On the grounds of the hospital is the Musée des Moulages. It is one of the most historically significant collections of dermatology moulages.
Sadly, the museum building is in a state of disrepair. The roof was badly damaged in a storm, and funds are lacking to fix it properly. The roof is leaking and ruining many of these significant dermatologic artifacts.
I visited this museum and felt a lot of anxiety about the loss of this important part of medical history. The museum cannot independently engage in fund-raising (although funds can be donated by individuals) because it is part of the national health system and delivery of medical care is a higher priority than preservation of the museum.
The funds will be directed with a specific earmark for the repair of the museum's roof, which is estimated to be about one million euros. If this first campaign is funded, additional money will be directed to restore damaged moulages.
Below are pictures of water damage on a moulage and a temporary solution of plastic sheeting and water buckets around an attic window to mitigate water damage.
If you are curious about the history of dermatology, or would like to know more options for donating to the museum, please visit: https://savethemoulages.org
The Hôpital Saint-Louis in Paris, France was a site of origin for the specialty of derrmatology during the 1800's, doctors from all around the world traveled here to learn about skin disease.
The hospital was designed to treat patients with unremitting illnesses, which basically included anyone with a chronic skin condition. Photography was not widely available, so physicians had to have an accurate way that was superior to hand-drawing to record diseases for teaching others.
A moulage is a wax impression taken from a plaster cast made on patients to record and create a library of skin diseases. The wax models were then hand-painted to record all the details of the skin diseases.
On the grounds of the hospital is the Musée des Moulages. It is one of the most historically significant collections of dermatology moulages.
Sadly, the museum building is in a state of disrepair. The roof was badly damaged in a storm, and funds are lacking to fix it properly. The roof is leaking and ruining many of these significant dermatologic artifacts.
I visited this museum and felt a lot of anxiety about the loss of this important part of medical history. The museum cannot independently engage in fund-raising (although funds can be donated by individuals) because it is part of the national health system and delivery of medical care is a higher priority than preservation of the museum.
The funds will be directed with a specific earmark for the repair of the museum's roof, which is estimated to be about one million euros. If this first campaign is funded, additional money will be directed to restore damaged moulages.
Below are pictures of water damage on a moulage and a temporary solution of plastic sheeting and water buckets around an attic window to mitigate water damage.
If you are curious about the history of dermatology, or would like to know more options for donating to the museum, please visit: https://savethemoulages.org
Organizer
Heather Woodworth Wickless
Organizer
Dallas, TX
