"Pesthaus" in Tyrol

Historical treasures will amaze you

Christian Lechner, chairman of the "Freundeskreis Pesthaus" association, with microscopes.

(Bild: Christian Forcher)

The medical history association "Freundeskreis Pesthaus" in Innsbruck celebrated its 25th birthday on April 15. Reason enough to take a closer look at the objects. And there are some real treasures among them - such as the original doping control protocols from the 1976 Olympics. The aim of those responsible is to open a museum. Perhaps someone can provide suitable premises?

Many protagonists from the medical and health scene were involved in the founding of the museum in 1999. For example, Christoph Neuner, then Director of the Provincial Health Service, who is now Honorary Chairman of the Pest House Association. The main focus is on researching the history of human health and illness.

12,500 individual objects inventoried
"The aim was and still is to create a medical history museum. Although we have not yet been able to realize this, we now have the collection we need for this. We are talking about around 12,500 individual objects that have been inventoried. The number of items that have not yet been inventoried is growing every week. That's an additional few thousand items," reports Chairman Christian Lechner (36), who is a pediatrician himself.

Secretary Edwin Knapp shows an old apothecary's cupboard complete with jars.

(Bild: Christian Forcher)

Collections officer Miriam Lechner.

(Bild: Christian Forcher)

"We got most of it from doctors"
A look into the Saluteum, the show depot of the Pest House Association of the Hall State Nursing Clinic, which is made available to the association by Commercial Director Wolfgang Markl, shows that the objects include everything the medical, health and historical heart desires: old equipment such as microscopes or X-ray machines, apothecary cabinets, vessels and much more. "We received most of the items from doctors who have closed their practices. We are interested in objects that have their own history - such as notes on the owner's life story. The connection to Tyrol is also important to us," says secretary Edwin Knapp (84), retired university professor of internal medicine.

Original doping control protocols from the 1976 Olympics
When asked about his favorite item in the collection, the 84-year-old doesn't have to think twice. "These are the doping control protocols from the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, which only exist once in the world. I was responsible for these tests back then," he reminisces, as he proudly shows us the completed protocol from former skiing ace Franz Klammer.

1976 Olympic Games: Franz Klammer's doping control protocol.

(Bild: Christian Forcher)

Old medication can also be found.

(Bild: Christian Forcher)

Red used to mean poisonous in pharmacies.

(Bild: Christian Forcher )

Green used to mean non-toxic in pharmacies.

(Bild: Christian Forcher)

Exciting details about the Schimmelbusch mask 
Lechner, on the other hand, is particularly fascinated by objects that have a lot to tell - like the Schimmelbusch mask. "At the end of the 1840s, ether and chloroform anesthesia emerged. In the beginning, chloroform was often dripped onto a bandage and held in front of the patient's face. However, this caused skin irritation. This problem was solved a few decades later by the surgeon Curt Schimmelbusch - with his mask. Direct skin contact can now be avoided," explains the association chairman.

Around 150 members, anyone can join the association 
He and his officers are working to continuously expand and present the collection of the Pest House Association, which now has around 150 members. "We are always happy to welcome new members to our collection and to receive requests for guided tours," emphasizes collection officer Miriam Lechner (30). Excitingly, anyone interested can become a member of the association - "including people who are not directly related to medicine, of course".

Fakten

Contact and list of anniversary events: www.pesthaus.at

Searching for a location for the museum
The aim of a museum is also to be pursued further. "We recently focused on a specific location - on an area that is owned by the federal government. But unfortunately, the responsible Burghauptmannschaft Wien turned us down," reveals Knapp, emphasizing: "Anyone who knows of suitable premises can also contact us."

Hopefully suggestions will be made quickly, because all these valuable and fascinating objects, which paint a historical picture of the health and illness of the people of Tyrol, absolutely must be exhibited in a museum.