His books and artifacts are on display at home, where he often hosts interested curators, collectors, writers, and artists. “That's how I learn, and that's one of the reasons for the book: not to put it in a corner and in a locked room, but to share those instruments,” he said. “A lot of the instruments in the book no one will ever see unless they see them pictured.”
According to his Web site, Dr. Greenspan's “wish list” of items to acquire includes a tobacco enema set, a von Helmholtz ophthalmoscope, and a Kolff rotating drum dialysis machine from around 1943.
Dr. Greenspan considers his avocation more of an obligation than an amusement. “As a collector, putting this book together in a personal way was a challenge,” he said. “History is not interesting unless it involves people: why they did things and how they did things. From my standpoint, that has been missing in medical books. If I don't take the time to pursue these antiques and related stories, it won't be done.”
'I'm more interested in learning from the past directly through letters, documents, and instruments.'
Source DR. GREENSPAN
Dr. Robert E. Greenspan's collection includes a Dieulafoy's aspirator, manufactured around 1880.
This all-metal general operating set, circa 1900, also has found its way into Dr. Greenspan's collection.
Source Photos courtesy Dr. Robert E. Greenspan
A photo of Union soldier Merari Bunajah Stevens is displayed with the bullet that hit his father.