Flipping Through the Pages of an Educational Anatomy Book from 1661 | From the Stacks

Before medical students had access to cadavers, anatomical models, or computer models, there were few available resources to learn about human anatomy. One of those resources was educational books containing detailed, interactive illustrations of the human body depicting both the appearance of our internal organs as well as the many complex layers and systems hidden beneath our skin. Join Heidi Nance, Director of the Historical Medical Library, for a deep dive into our own copy of one such book: "Kleiner Welt Spiegel" by Johann Remmelin, published in Germany in 1661.
Video by Jonah Stern
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[@theMutterMuseum]

A number of viewers have commented on the lack of the gloves in the video. We want to assure everyone that this is actually the preferred protocol for handling old books because gloves reduce tactility and may increase the likelihood of accidental tears. But thank you all for expressing concern about our precious collection!

[@llamalady8700]

KZbin Armchair Professionals ALWAYS know more than the person in the video.

[@Alex-cb2gf]

Not only is that book fascinating with its detail, especially for the time period, but I am assuming it is worth a fortune.

[@lizziesangi1602]

This book is Fascinating on a grand level! My grand-uncle was a dentist and I had his book of Grays' Anatomy. That is a fascinating book I could never stop reading. Considering the way cadavers were had back in that day, I can imagine how many times a student working on a cadaver might have had that book next to him, trying to find something. It is so intact that it seems that's how invaluable it was.

[@lilsaam]

When I tell you my anxiety was through the roof when she was flipping between those thin layers of ancient paper 😭

[@sallyhamilton7202]

I know! I was yelling at my computer screen for her to be more careful and stop manhandling things! I was certain they were going to tear something! And why aren't they wearing gloves!

[@imulchapeach]

@@sallyhamilton7202 Absolutely! Think of the oils and acid on those hands! Just like the surgeons of the 17th century…

[@Dept_Of_Ducks]

I collect old books, and a lot of the paper was actually much sturdier than our paper today, or compared to paper about 1900’s. It’s closer to the feel of a US dollar bill. (I believe some older papers actually used to have a cotton content, and US dollar bills are printed on cotton paper, so the similar feel of the two would make sense. So like a dollar bill, don’t rip it, and it will get weaker with a bunch of folding, but as long as you’re gentle you should be fine)

[@joycew3086]

This is very interesting. I think I was holding my breath when you were flipping through the layers.

[@sylvester452]

that's so interesting! that first diagram of the dude with all those layers seems so easy to tear/damage, it made me nervous haha

[@louiserose2609]

Thank you!

[@karyannfontaine8757]

Such a fantastic book for it's time. I like how the anatomy figures can be peeled to show beneath the skin showing the body systems. Delightful technique. The drawn religious symbols were interesting. Is this written in Latin? Very sad the way the snake is depicted as something evil. As a snake keeper, I must say that snakes are very misunderstood.

[@katbairwell]

It's so unfair isn't it?! What species do you keep? I would love for us to add a snake, or two, to our family one day! I'm a big Snake Discovery fan here on KZbin.

[@karyannfontaine8757]

@@katbairwell I have Ball Pythons, a Blood Python, Sumatran Python, Childrens Python, a male Albino Burmese who is my dream snake, and some Boa Constrictors. They are all very nice snakes. I also love Snake Discovery and many other snake channels to learn from and show snakes in a positive way.. I have never owned a Colubrid such as a Bull, Garder, Rat or King Snake. I would like to have a Rat Snake because they are very chill with gentle personalities.

[@keelienne]

As far as I could see, it is written in medieval german. It says in the title it shows „die göttliche Schöpfung“ , meaning god’s creation. So this is why there are so many biblical symbols, and why for example the the last pages woman’s vulva is hidden so well 😉

[@Harpalyce]

I wonder if the 'scale' layer over the intestines in the last panel was actually meant to represent the transversalis fascia/transversalis facia scoring.

[@carasachs4004]

This is amazing. Especially the condition of the book and all those detailed cutouts! Incredible. Thank you for sharing!

[@bludeetu321]

Fantastic book! Thanks. Heads up, I couldn't make out any of what the second person was saying. Voice to,soft without access to the mike. Hard on my elderly ears. But what a treasure!

[@jaded_gerManic]

Wow, I am humbled by the gratituitous amount of work that book represents.

[@allisonjonesphelps2860]

Whoa! Fascinating.

[@Dept_Of_Ducks]

The thing under his foot at 6:45 was a skull. It’s nearly a top down view, you can see the face at the bottom. And the view at 4:49 is the skull upside down. The snake is going through the foramen magnum. The part at 8:35 appears to be a stomach with the esophagus going up? The “scales” are similar to the texture of tripe, cow stomach.

[@miriamkasseris9313]

My first thought was why aren’t they wearing gloves?? Those pages are old and the oil from their fingers will cause so much damage!!! Really interesting book - the skill needed to do the multiple images is amazing.

[@violetsnotroses3640]

Cotton gloves aren't used anymore because people are more likely to tear the pages when they can't feel them, so the standard practice now is clean, dry hands. Rest assured they thoroughly washed their hands first! It's a pretty recent change in standards for handling old books and textiles, from what I understand.

[@rhondahuggins9542]

🤯 I have had a long experience with books...but this was a 1st for me. Fascinating...Astonishing...The time, effort and artistry going into a work that few people at it's publication would get to see...let alone touch. Any idea how many copies were actually made? Thank you so much for sharing this❤🤪

[@jett8193]

Wow, what it took just to design the book, let alone make sure it's cut & assembled properly! Seems like it would have always been rather fragile, with the thin paper pages & all the amazing cutout layers. My parents have a set of encyclopedias from the early 60s, with the one on human anatomy containing clear pages printed with layers of the human body (both male & female). It was my favorite volume 💀❤

[@Kenkire]

The one up on the side with the "Scales" it a thyroid. 9:05 Also, MDCLXI = 1661

[@ursrajper387]

It's amazing. But I've a question!! that how they made copies of that book in 17th century??

[@LoveAuntieJan]

AMAZING!!! Thank you! 🩺

[@nataliamaliga]

As a book and paper conservator I’m a little bit scared of the way you’re handling all the flaps… I don’t think the thin paper can handle being opened so wide. Also that letter opener-looking spatula wasn’t really the best tool choice…

[@MissLilyputt]

I thought it would’ve been better to return each layer back to down individually rather than all at once since it can cause the underneath layers to crumple.

[@nataliamaliga]

@@MissLilyputt I meant more for the actual handling of opening the flaps up all the way, like approx. 180 angle of opening. If the paper resists opening that wide it shouldn’t be done. I understand though that for the video you wanted to show as much as possible when opening the flaps.

[@SuperSpinWheel]

You took the words right after my mouth. My anxiety was maxed out the way she handled a very old book

[@magorzatakoscielak7624]

This book must have cost a fortune!

[@TrevorTrottier]

I believe I've seen something on this book on the objectivity channel where it's at the Royal society.

[@nevadastreak]

Fascinating. Hella stressful. If you make a tear on a page, do you get skinned to help repair (another) book

[@sataprescott7588]

Ahhh, this is a delight.

[@violetsnotroses3640]

Wow, thanks for sharing this incredible book! I'm super curious about how accurate the illustrations are, and how they compare to modern anatomical textbooks?

[@makaimaukahasopinions848]

Magnificent

[@Familylawgroup]

What is the provenance of this book? Isn’t the use of a letter opener to lift the pieces a risk to the paper? The letter opener is designed to rip paper, after all.

[@TheNo1Atheist1]

is there a soft copy of this anywhere?

[@rebeccasabourin6193]

I wish we had paper dolls like that.

[@sharondreisbach4445]

How does one go about donating an historical medical textbook to the museum?

[@themcgeefamily7514]

💚💙

[@michaelleblanc7283]

No protective gloves . . . ?

[@Lemit]

It's a misconception to use gloves with antique books-- clean hands are the way to go. Gloves risk tearing!

[@michaelleblanc7283]

@@Lemit Please cite source/evidence for that claim if possible.

[@galaxisinfernalis]

@@michaelleblanc7283 “According to the Library of Congress, wearing gloves while handling antiquarian books may do more harm than good. Portland State University Library Special Collections follows their advice to handle most rare and valuable books with clean, dry hands.”

[@michaelleblanc7283]

@@galaxisinfernalis The operative word in this permissiveness seems to be 'may'. Would you happen to know why gloves were introduced in the first place. Was it because not wearing 'may cause damage or it was 'observed to cause damage ? Also, tearing paper while wearing skin-tight gloves might be better placed on the person doing it rather than the glove.

[@galaxisinfernalis]

@@michaelleblanc7283 You asked for the source and I gave it to you. If you have more doubts just look it up... There's plenty of articles so you can do your own research.

[@llamalady8700]

RRIPPPPPP.....Oops! Career ending move.

[@annameadows374]

Amazing! But shouldn't they be wearing gloves when handling this precious text?

[@bingeltube]

Fascinating, but please use gloves the next time you go through the pages of a several hundred years old book!

[@bbghoul_x]

Ur more likely to tear a page with gloves on. They thoroughly wash their hands before handling the books

[@bingeltube]

@@bbghoul_x you witnessed that they washed their hands before? Even clean hands damage old documents. What kind of gloves are you talking about? Boxing gloves? 😀

[@janeanf123]

No gloves! Nice book.