Medal struck for the 24th International Congress of the International Society of the History of Medicine, held in Budapest in 1974. This medal was given to contributors to the congress. Dr Frank Forster delivered a paper at this congress. There are some slides relating to Ignac Semmelweis in Frank Forster's slide collection under the heading of 'Budapest'.Ignac Semmelweis is credited with discovering the cause of puerperal sepsis, by establishing a link to the infectious material carried on the hands of students and doctors from the autopsy room into the maternity ward. Round bronze coloured medal. Front of medal carries an image of a statue of a woman with an infant beneath a leafed archway, and the text 'SEMMELWEIS/IGNAC/1818/1865'. Back of medal carries an image of a shield/crest overlaid with a representation of the Staff of Asclepius (serpent wrapped around a stick) and the text 'S.I.H.M./BUDAPEST/1974'. Bakc of medal is encircled with the text 'CONGRESSUS INTERNATIONALIS XXIV HISTORIAE ARTIS MEDICINAE'.semmelweis, numismatics

Carl Rudolph Braun (1823-1891) was the inventor of this instrument, as well as a type of decapitation hook. Braun was born and practiced in Austria, and followed Semmelweis as assistant to Klein at the Vienna Maternity Clinic in 1847, before becoming its head in 1856. Braud added a gynaecology section to the clinic in 1858, being convinced that obstetrics and gynaecology should be together. (Source: Baskett, Thomas. 'On the Shoulders of Giants: Eponyms and Names in Obstetrics and Gynaecology'). This device was included with a range of other obstetric instruments, mostly destructive instruments, given to RANZCOG from Box Hill Hospital labour ward in February- March 1998. The maternity service at Box Hill Hospital combined with St George's hospital in Kew to be known as Birralee Maternity Service. These instruments were collected by Julie Collette, Unit Manager, St George's Kew and given to RANZCOG Museum Curator, Susan Barnett.Craniotomy forceps, Braun's. Stainless steel forceps, with wingnut. Upper blade has open oval section and ridged grip section on the handle. Lower blade has serrated inner edge and ridged grip section on the handle. Wingnut is used for attaching the upper and lower blades of the forceps. Inscribed "B.H.H.L Ward" on forceps."B.H.H.L Ward"destructive instruments