Andreas Syggros Museum

The “Andreas Syggros Museum” started operating as an educational unit in 1912.

It contains 16660 models / pastes / preforms of aphrodisiac and dermatological diseases, which were manufactured / fabricated/ constructed by G. O. Foteinos and by trained technicians. Whilst being in Paris for studies (1902-1905), G. O. Foteinos wished to be trained himself in the manufacturing of preforms, having understood the major importance of the visual image and memory in teaching and learning of Dermatology and Aphrodisiology. Therefore he accorded big attention to the exact depiction of the object.

To achieve success in this specific education, it had to be combined with medical knowledge, special technical education and talent, as well as hardheadedness. The last element was essential to Professor G. O Foteinos, since Bareta, a well-know preform manufacturer of the St. Louis Museum of Paris persistently denied helping him.

In Berlin though, he was supported by Professor Lassar, the preform manufacturer of the University Clinic of Berlin, and therefore a sculptor named Kasten undertook his education. At the VII Internation Conference of Dermatology, which took place in Rome in 1912, he presented 24 preforms about the arsenic-based therapy results.

In 1913, Professor G. O. Foteinos donated to the Army School of Paris, Val-de-Grace, 6 preforms of warriors-soldiers of the siege of Bizani who had suffered from frostbites, injuries etc.

These preforms were permanently exposed in the abovementioned School’s Museum.

In 1907 he wrote his treatise entitled“Die Bedeutung νon Wachsabdrucken (moulages) fur Dermatologie υnd Syphilis nebst einer ausfurlichen Beschreibung ihner Herstellung, describing the theory and practice of preform manufacturing.

This treatise was published in the Dermatologische Zeitschrift Bd XIV (1907) and was prefaced by Professor O. Lassar.

It goes without saying that due to the audiovisual educational means’ modernization, the Museum is no longer used for educational purposes. Nevertheless, it is maintained thoroughly and it is visited by postgraduate doctors, students, the public etc.

Source: www.syggros-hosp.gr