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The collections and objects housed in the History of Medicine museum are presented in the stunning setting of the Hôtel-Dieu Saint Jacques: paintings, sculptures and ancient medical instruments, tracing Toulouse's medical history back over seven centuries. Two themes are explored: the teaching of medicine and surgery and the history of hospitals and healthcare in Toulouse.

The museum was instigated by Professor Jean-Charles Auvergnat, Secretary General of the Société de Médecine, who now runs it. His goal was keen to combine historical, scientific and technical aspects with artistic elements, as shown through medical art. The museum allows a wider public to gain a better understanding of the evolution of medical concepts and medicine's place in society in the service of patients.