Plastic surgeon Dr Adel Quttainah has gathered an impressive collection of weird and wonderful medical devices dredged up from the past.
Many of those items, gathered from antique shops and market stalls around the world, have been on display at the Quttainah Medical Museum in Kuwait since it opened in 2017.
While some are considered priceless, all offer a glimpse into the sometimes gruesome medical practices of years gone by.
From an iron lung to one of the earliest stethoscopes and elaborate surgical tools, about 500 items form a collection that has been acquired across four decades.
Dr Quttainah, who regularly practises medicine in Dubai, first took an interest in historical medical equipment during his training in Cork, Ireland, in the 1990s.
That interest has since grown into an obsession to hunt down the more obscure tools of the trade of some of the earliest physicians on Earth.
'A passion for medical evolution'
“This all started back in my medical school days,” said Dr Quttainah, who has more than a million Instagram followers.
“I came across a device called a scarer – that was a gadget with blades. It was used to scrape against the skin, to make it bleed with an idea to get rid of bad blood so other fluids can get back into balance and return the patient to a healthy state.
“That was a common belief back then. I thought it was really interesting, not just the medicine behind it, but the theory at the time.
“Ever since, I’ve just kind of developed a passion for trying to find out more about how medicine evolved.”
An eye phantom dates from 1890, and was procured from the Medical School Berlin.
As is the case with many devices in the museum, it was used by medical students to learn new skills. In this case, how to perform complex eye surgeries with a donated human eyeball or animal eye inserted into the glass casing of the phantom.
Other surgical tools dating back to the 17th century look more like weapons of war than medical devices, but are a good example of how far surgical treatment has come, Dr Quttainah said.
“Once you know the roots of how medical treatments and procedures were done, you appreciate how medicine has evolved,” he said.
“Each antique has its own story. I have these devices that are like spears. When women went through difficult pregnancies and the baby wouldn't come out, doctors would use these tools to try to deflate the baby's head so it could be removed.
“Of course they killed the baby, but often saved the mother. This was well before the advent of forceps and the other equipment we use today.”
Growing interest
What started out as a hobby has grown into a keen ambition to further develop the museum’s exhibits – whatever the price.
The internet and a lucrative resale market has made it easier for Dr Quttainah to hunt down more rare items for his display, but it can be difficult to encourage owners to part with their own collections, he said.
The museum has a lot of artificial limbs, each with stories behind them about the person who once used them.
The oldest museum piece is a little glass cup found in what is currently Iran, believed to have been used about a thousand years ago to store medicine.
There are also many old medical books, documenting long-since-abandoned procedures and treatments that go back 700 years.
Dental keys made from iron, a $120,000 waxwork of a cadaver used for surgical training in the 19th century and an iron lung recently procured from a film set designer in the UK are some of his most treasured exhibits.
“It can be quite hard to get hold of some of these items, as certain pieces are very rare and sought after,” said Dr Quttainah, who performs cosmetic surgery from his clinic in Al Wasl.
“Museums like the Louvre or the British Museum won't let them go, so it is a very limited market.
“Some basic dental tools may not be as expensive as, say, scalpel handles made out of bone and other elaborate materials that tend to decay.
“Equipment has changed, clearly, but blades are still blades. In the past, especially English surgeons, would use decorative knives and scalpels. The higher ranking the surgeon, the more decorated his blades and saws would be.
“They were very artsy but bacteria lived in all the tool’s crevices so they were probably killing more people than they were saving through infections.
“It's interesting to see how people used to think in the past.”
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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Welterweight
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) beat Mostafa Radi (PAL)
(Unanimous points decision)
Catchweight 75kg
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) beat Leandro Martins (BRA)
(Second round knockout)
Flyweight (female)
Manon Fiorot (FRA) beat Corinne Laframboise (CAN)
(RSC in third round)
Featherweight
Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB) beat Ahmed Al Darmaki
(Disqualification)
Lightweight
Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) beat Rey Nacionales (PHI)
(Unanimous points)
Featherweight
Yousef Al Housani (UAE) beat Mohamed Fargan (IND)
(TKO first round)
Catchweight 69kg
Jung Han-gook (KOR) beat Max Lima (BRA)
(First round submission by foot-lock)
Catchweight 71kg
Usman Nurmogamedov (RUS) beat Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
(TKO round 1).
Featherweight title (5 rounds)
Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
(TKO round 1).
Lightweight title (5 rounds)
Bruno Machado (BRA) beat Mike Santiago (USA)
(RSC round 2).
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The biog
Family: Parents and four sisters
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah
A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls
Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction
Favourite holiday destination: Italy
Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning
Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes
Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
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- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
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Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
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Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
