In 1977, the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) decided to build a huge university hospital complex on the far side of the ring road, in the municipality of Anderlecht. The complex also included a school of public health, a nursing school, a centre for the development of new technologies, a library and accommodation for students, followed in 1995 by a building to house the Museum of Medicine. Whereas most such museum’s exhibit historical items from their respective universities and hospitals, primarily old instruments, medical devices, portraits of celebrated physicians, and so on, the one here in Brussels focuses on the theme of medicine in art and history. The museum brings together an original collection consisting mainly of art pieces and archaeological artefacts. The eight exhibition rooms explain the evolution of medical practices, from the initially magical and religious art of healing to rational knowledge in the Graeco-Roman period, and then the advent of science as Renaissance doctors and artists became interested in anatomy. The exhibits include around 300 Spitzner anatomical waxes representing diseases and surgical techniques of the 19th century as well as a collection of terracotta statuettes showing clinical signs (deformities of the face, malformations of the spine, skin lesions, etc.), which were used by the ancients to 'transfer' or 'protect themselves' against a series of diseases.