Moulagen

Extensive rash: measles. Reddened, individual spots: German measles. Red spots that turn into blisters: chicken pox. Nowadays, medical students can easily differentiate between these symptoms as photographic references are widely available – both in books and online. However, this hasn’t been the case until well into the 20th century. In order to work with natural depictions, doctors had to create models of diseased body parts, so-called moulages, which they used for teaching and learning. 

The University’s collection of these models was founded by Professor Dr Peter Wutzler, Chair of Virology and Antiviral Therapies at the University Hospital. It is currently housed at the Archive for Moulages and Medical Wax Models at the Berlin Museum of Medical History (Charité) as a long-term loan.