anatomical and pathological specimens in jars were seen as increasingly irrelevant as learning aids for trainee surgeons. the collections now began to focus on specialised areas, such as dentistry, histopathology, and radiology, whilst continuing the collection of surgical memorabilia – particularly instruments and equipment. in the 1950s much of the barclay collection was given to other museums. for doctors the collections progressively became the realm of the researcher and the medical historian. while the museum had been open to the public since its earliest days, by the 1960s public access had become restricted to a few pre-booked tours.