Paneled in dark wood and lined with shelves of important old books, the New York Academy of Medicine’s Malloch Rare Book Room is also home to a few literal medical oddities in three dimensions: a grapefruit-sized hairball from a cow (thought to be a cure for rabies), George Washington’s dentures, and more.
Curator Miriam Mandelbaum frequently receives foreign visitors at the library at 103rd Street in upper Manhattan as it is listed for its oddities in the Lonely Planet guide. She is proud to point out rare collections of books on cookery (health through herbal remedies), books on surgery, anatomy and diagnosis and treatment of diseases from the 16th Century. Story from the New York Times.
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