In the historic center of Napoli was reopened the former Peace Hospital, which had been closed for many years and which now also houses the temporary exhibition "Planet Pandemic. Viral stories of infections and remedies". The museum is located in the very central via dei Tribunali.
It is a splendid opportunity to visit this interesting exhibition, but above all to return to enter this place which has been closed for too long and which is one of the jewels of our city. Furthermore, this exhibition allows us to know thevery interesting history of Neapolitan medicine which has allowed us to have excellences such as this structure and the Ospedale degli Incurabili.
The free exhibition is organized by the Museum of Health Arts and History of Medicine located in the Hospital of the Incurables and which is part of the recognized museums of the Campania Region.
An overview of infectious diseases and vaccines
The "Planet Pandemic" exhibition makes a very interesting excursus on certain infectious diseases:
- smallpox
- leprosy
- plague
- syphilis
- AIDS
- Ebola
- Sars
- Covid
Unfortunately, we know the last one well because it caused the pandemic that we have been facing for two years and for which several vaccines have been developed. And just the vaccines are one of the subjects of the exhibition because, in addition to the history of the tradition of medicine in Naples and of the infectious diseases that humanity has known, there is also a lot of information on vaccines that have been developed by important scientists over the centuries.
Penicilin discovered by a Neapolitan and other diseases
An in-depth study is dedicated to discovery of penicillin which revolutionized therapy to address infectious diseases. Everyone knows that it was the doctor Alexander Fleming who discovered it in 1928, but in reality the first discovery was of a young Neapolitan medical student, Vincent Tiberius, which is considered his precursor. In fact, 35 years before Fleming he published the results of his research entitled “On the extracts of some molds”.
Tiberius understood that some molds were able to protect people from infectious diseases and discovered it observing the molds in the well of the uncles' house. When molds were present, the inhabitants of the house were protected from gastro-intestinal affections, but when they were not there because the well was cleaned, people became ill.
Another study is dedicated to smallpox vaccine discovered by Edward Jenner in 1796.
The tools of medicine
An important section is also dedicated to tools and objects used in this field. Are exposed lancets for vaccination of different types used by surgeons, that is the surgeons, some perfect mechanisms with hidden snap blades and much more.
Among the historical finds there are also the beaks full of aromatic herbs which were used to purify the air that doctors breathed, especially the plague doctors. Then there are the objects that were used to identify the lepers that is, rattles and cowbells. We also find Read typical of the hospital wards of a few centuries ago.
You can move easily to discover these tools, as well as diseases, thanks to the many didactic panels installed in each section.
The video presentation of the exhibition
Here is the video published by the Municipality of Naples:
Information on the Pandemia exhibition
When
from the 14 March 2022
Where
former Peace Hospital, via dei Tribunali 227
Opening hours
Monday to Friday from 9.30 to 13.30
Price
Delivery to Italy takes one or two business days
Contacts and reservations required
081440647-3335718341 | Sanitary Arts Museum website
Cover source: Suburban drifts
Internal photo source: Municipality of Naples
