EAU launches virtual European Museum of Urology

The virtual museum tells the history of urology by unifying continent’s collections of instruments

We are proud to officially launch the virtual European Museum of Urology. The online museum brings together different European collections of urological objects, from private and public collections alike. By combining relatively small and geographically diverse collections, the European Museum of Urology offers one large collection featuring many rarities. The European Museum of Urology is the culmination of many years of work done by the EAU’s History Office.

The Story of urologyThe museum features an archive with pictures of individual instruments, mementos and other objects of historical value. The “Story of Urology” is told through new research and material adapted from previous EAU History Office publications, and it is illustrated with the new photos from the Museum’s collections. Rather than simply displaying items from a single collection, the European Museum of Urology truly spans the continent. At the moment, it features collections from Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Finland. Future additions are expected from Central Europe.

Highlights of the Virtual MuseumAt the moment, the EAU’s European Museum of Urology features many rarities. For example:

• The proto-endoscope, the “light-conductor” by Philipp Bozzini, dated 1805 [Download photo]
• The first endoscope by Antoine Desormeaux of 1857 [Download photo]
• Surgical instruments by the famous French instrument maker Benoȋt Charrière from the 19^th century
• Early blind lithotriptors from the 19^th century [Download photo]
• Gustave Trouvé’s polyscope of 1873, a little case for different endoscopic procedures. [Download photo]

Mrs. Michaela Zykan, Curator of the European Museum of Urology: “The museum presents a unique achievement in unifying a variety of urological museums or collections from across Europe in one digital museum. Another goal of course is to show the history of urology with all its main personalities and pioneers in the most comprehensive way possible. The History of Urology, paired with specific instruments are the ideal foundation of this comprehensive endeavour. All historically-minded urologists are invited to contribute!”

6^th International Congress on the History of UrologyThe EAU History Office is organising the 6th International Congress on the History of Urology on March 11th 2016, the first day of the Annual EAU Congress (EAU16), taking place in Munich. At the Congress, delegates can further acquaint themselves with the digital museum, and items from the museum’s collections will also be on display. The full-day programme highlights the history of urology on all six inhabited continents, organised around four distinct topics:

• Worldwide roots– international contributions to early urology
• Politics– the establishment of societies, standards and regulation
• Pioneers– the personalities and stories behind innovators of the field
• Sex around the world– attitudes and practices across the globe

The European Museum of History can be accessed through history.uroweb.org. More information and the preliminary programme of the International Congress on the History of Urology is available here.