PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION STRATEGIES FOR WAX BODIES IN SCIENTIFIC UNIVERSITY COLLECTIONS

Scientific collections are closely linked to research practice at universities, as evidenced by the interest shown by researchers and teachers in the objects that compose them. Much of the material in university museums comes from the disinter-ested enthusiasm of a person or group, determined to maintain this educational and scientific legacy. Their work can be understood as a form of conservation, vocational in nature, because it is through their efforts that these historic and scientific heritage collections have been cared for. Each piece of a collection is, in itself, an essential element of great value in determining the materials used in a particular professional practice, as there have been scientific advances throughout the history of each dis-cipline. This type of wax anatomical model did not signify the total disappearance of the practice of anatomical dissection. They were teaching resources that could be used during lectures regardless of the availability of corpses, pieces that preserved the hu-man body and reproduced it faithfully, acting as operational mediators between phys-ical reality and the cognitive process in the construction of anatomical knowledge