A new medical exhibition about Dr Samuel Johnson and the role of medicine in Georgian England opened in Dr Johnson’s London museum home on 18 September.

Entitled ‘The Tyranny of Treatment’, the exhibition opened on the anniversary birthday of Dr Johnson, who created of the first ever English Dictionary, and will be on display at Dr Johnson’s east London garret until 31 January 2004.

The exhibition has been described by its curators as a ‘very personal exploration of how a whole range of medical conditions were treated in the 18th century’ and will examine both Dr Johnson and medicinal practices in Georgian England.

The displays will examine the health of Dr Johnson and five of his closest friends and explore 18th century treatments for a diverse variety of illnesses including hearing problems, asthma, blindness, breast cancer, depression and venereal disease.

Original instruments on display will include a couching needle used for cataract operations, an ivory ear trumpet, bleeding knives and a lancet. There will also be a rare opportunity to see Samuel Johnson’s death mask and his original autopsy report. Details: www.drjh.dircon.co.uk