Antique brain tissue, St Elizabeth's Hospital, Washington DC

Large format photograph of an antique glass-plate specimen of brain tissue (brain 4042, slide #78), first created approximately 80 years ago at St Elizabeth's hospital in Washington DC, USA. St Elizabeth's was America's first federal mental healthcare facility. The glass plates were believed to have been made in the laboratory of Dr Walter Freeman, who brought lobotomy to the US and popularised its use. This image is one of over 100 images which were captured as part of a dcoumentary to examine the hospital's history and rebirth into 21st century mental healthcare.