University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
Anatomy
Art
Moulage
Diseases
Classification
Anatomy
Art
Moulage
Diseases
Syphilis
Accession Number
1981.17.26
Description
Anatomical model in wax of a life-size child's head mounted on a wooden base, depicting typical facies due to congenital syphilis; paper label mounted.
Anatomical model in wax of a life-size child's head mounted on a wooden base, depicting typical facies due to congenital syphilis; paper label mounted.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Acquired from the Academy of Medicine; source: Dr. Gary Sibbald, Toronto General Hospital.
In upper right-hand corner: "Hôpital St. Louis // Paris"; signed "S. Niclet" to bottom left of moulage; label beneath moulage reads, "Syphilis hereditaire--Facies al Heredo Nezen-lorgnette, cicatrices de Coryza [Inherited syphilis -- "opera glasses" visage, cold sore-like scar tissue] // Parot"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-F6-4
Length
17.1 cm
Width
17.0 cm
Depth
6.0 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Dimension Notes
depth is approx. max.
Condition Remarks
Sept 2022 - Good overall condition; chip out of wooden base bottom left edge; slight cracking of wax bottom left cheek; overall slight flaking of wax especially on lips and nose, loss/flaking of pigment in geometric pattern on forehead (perhaps from pressing on something)
Congenital syphilis is a chronic infectious disease caused by a spirochete (treponema pallidum) acquired by the fetus in the uterus before birth. Symptoms of this disease may not become apparent until several weeks or months after birth and, in some cases, may take years to appear. Congenital syphilis is passed on to the child from the mother who acquired the disease prior to or during pregnancy.
Louis Niclet (1867–1924) was made official modeller at the Hôpital St.-Louis following the death of Jules Barretta in 1923. Niclet made 480 moulages in his career, all with great attention to detail.
Exhibit History
May 2006: "Medical Art Through the Ages: The History of Anatomical Teaching Models."
On exhibit: "Medical Art throughout the Ages: Moulages," Kingston Museum of Health Care, Sept. 2007