1930s Metal Exam Table/Chair

During the Middle Ages in Europe, Medieval physicians examined their patients on uncomfortable wooden tables that weren’t made specifically for medical exams and often served other purposes, like as a dining table. Still, the tables served the purpose of keeping patients steady and improving visibility for physicians. However, in the early age of medical practice, the rigorous sanitation standards that modern medical facilities uphold didn’t exist; patients were subjected to unsanitary conditions that spread bacteria and disease. Germ theory, or the theory that microscopic organisms are responsible for causing specific diseases, wasn’t accepted in European and North American medical practices until the mid-1800s. But between 1850 and 1920, germ theory revolutionized medical practices. Improved understanding of the necessity for sanitization led to improvements in materials used to manufacture tables that could be easily cleaned.

Before the early 1900s, most medical exams in the US took place in patients’ homes rather than physicians’ offices. But starting in the 1890s, doctors shifted care to designated medical facilities. At this early stage, examination tables still resembled furniture people would find in their homes. This familiarity helped patients feel more comfortable getting a medical exam in a doctor’s office. Over time, the exam table morphed from a basic table you could find in someone’s home to a specialized piece of medical equipment that facilitated doctors’ work. And over time stainless steel examination tables became more common than wooden tables (which you’ll find on display). While this made the tables more durable and sanitary, they were uncomfortable for patients. These tables can fold flat to allow a patient to lay on them.

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