Museum of Medicine History
{{Infobox museum
| name = Museum of Medicine History
| logo = Museum of Medicine History Logo.png
| image = Museum of History of Medicine, Varna.jpg
| established = 1985
| location = Varna, Bulgaria
| coordinates = {{Coord|43.199728|27.920691|display=inline,title}}
| type = Medical Museum
| website = {{URL|http://medmuseum.bg/}}
}}
The Museum of Medicine History (Bulgarian: Музей по история на медицината) is a museum located in Varna, Bulgaria. The museum is dedicated to the study of the development of Balkan medicine.
History
The construction of the building began in 1868 financed by Paraskeva Nikolaou, the building was completed and inaugurated in 1869.{{Cite web|title=Музей по историята на медицината|url=https://varnaholiday.bg/listing/музей-по-историята-на-медицината/?lang=bg|access-date=2021-07-01|website=Varna Holiday|language=bg-BG}} The building was designed by architect Yanko Konstantinov.{{Cite web|title=Музей по история на медицината|url=https://visit.varna.bg/bg/medical_museum.html|access-date=2021-07-01|website=Visit.Varna.bg|language=en}} The building served as a hospital for a time.{{Cite web|title=Музей по история на медицината "Параскева Николау", Варна, ул. "Параскева Николау" №7|url=https://www.varnaheritage.com/declared-nkc/muzey-po-istoriya-na-medicinata-paraskeva-nikolau-ul-paraskeva-nikolau-no7|access-date=2021-07-01|website=www.varnaheritage.com|language=bg}} The building is considered to be the first charity hospital in Bulgaria.{{Cite web|title=ABOUT US Museum of the History of Medicine|url=https://www.mu-varna.bg/EN/AboutUs/Pages/MuseumOfHistory.aspx|access-date=2021-07-01|website=www.mu-varna.bg}} Between 1918 and 1966, the building had various purposes but all were related to health in Varna. In 1969, following the anniversary of the building's foundation, the idea of converting it into a museum was proposed. In 1985, the museum was inaugurated.{{Cite web|date=2018-07-09|title=Музей по История на медицината|url=https://nauka.bg/muzei-istoriya-medicinata/|access-date=2021-07-01|language=bg-BG}}
Collections
The museum contains exhibits of different medical materials from ancient times to the present day, as well as documents about important medical figures in Bulgaria. The museum also has a library specialized in medical subjects.{{Cite web|title=Музей за история на медицината - Варна|url=http://www.museology.bg/bg/museums/i181/%D0%BC%D1%83%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%B9-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B0.html|access-date=2021-07-01|website=www.museology.bg}} The museum contains 4000 medical books as well as paleoanthropological collections.{{Cite web|title=Музей за история на медицината|url=https://m.mirela.bg/naemi/%D0%9C%D1%83%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%B9-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-zxi6623.html|access-date=2021-07-01|website=m.mirela.bg}} Among the museum's collections are those of pharmacy, radiology, dentistry and surgery.{{Cite web|last=Monitor.bg|title=Музеят по история на медицината дигитализира 4 колекции|url=https://www.monitor.bg/bg/a/view/muzejat-po-istorija-na-medicinata-digitalizira-4-kolekcii-233121|access-date=2021-07-01|website=www.monitor.bg}} The museum is divided into three exhibition halls.
- First exhibition hall: This hall contains the paleoanthropological collections spanning the fifth millennium BC and the end of the fourteenth century.
- Second exhibition hall: This hall displays the tools and medical equipment used between the Ottoman period and the Renaissance.
- Third exhibition hall: This room covers medical instruments and documents from the Russo-Turkish war to the 20th century.