Caution: High Voltage
About the exhibition
Despite modern safety measures, electricity still poses risks. The first known fatal electrical accident on Austrian soil occurred in 1882. It involved an engineer who died because, at the time, no one believed resuscitation was possible.
In 1906, the young internist Stefan Jellinek (1871–1969) presented for the first time, as part of the Hygiene Exhibition in Vienna’s Prater, a small selection of specimens and devices illustrating the effects of lightning strikes and electric current on humans and animals.
This collection later gave rise to the Electropathological Museum, which was grandly opened on October 29, 1936, at the General Hospital.
The introduction of electricity to cities is considered a turning point in history. Today, however, we know that every technical achievement and every advance also brings with it unintended consequences. Electricity remains a source of danger that should not be underestimated. The number of electrical devices for personal use is on the rise. This is often accompanied by declining quality and a lack of awareness about the dangers. Burning lithium-ion batteries and accidents involving people on train cars continue to make headlines. At the same time, there are still regions in the world where people have no or only limited access to electricity.
Since the first accidents involving electricity and lightning, doctors and technicians have been working together to develop safety equipment and educate the general public. Vienna is home to two major researchers in this field on a global scale. In addition to Stefan Jellinek, there is Gottfried Biegelmeier (1924–2007), whose basic research played a key role in the development of the residual current circuit breaker (RCCB).
The purpose of the electropathological collection is to educate the public about the dangers of electricity and to showcase appropriate protective devices. Whether in the case of workplace accidents or recreational accidents, the danger posed by electrical current cannot be overlooked. Because the groups at risk vary, it is difficult to effectively reach them with prevention efforts.
Whether in 1906 or 2026, working with electrical current still poses dangers that are often underestimated.
