Credit: University of New South Wales
Lansdown, a school science teacher before he took over the collection three years ago, said most of the visitors since the museum opened to the public a few weeks ago had been older people.
"It's perhaps because they've had more exposure to diseases and they may know somebody suffering from one of these conditions," he said. "Although it's quite upsetting initially, they then can understand it better.
"For the general public, and also for pathologists and doctors, the best way to learn about these things is to see them."
He said one man recently came in who was suffering asbestosis, an irreversible lung-scarring disease caused by exposure to asbestos dust.
While the man was familiar with the symptoms and cause of the disease, he simply wanted to see what was occurring inside his body, Lansdown said.
He said some visitors became queasy and the groups of senior high school students who regularly arrived for guided tours often responded with initial comments such as "gross" and "disgusting".
Lansdown said brains, feet and hands tended to produce the strongest reaction.
"We haven't had anyone faint but we've had quite a few who have recognised it's coming on and they'll take a break and get some fresh air," he said. "No one's ever going to be blasé about seeing real human specimens and you wouldn't want them to be."
Many of the body parts on display still look remarkably lifelike, including a hand where the only sign something is amiss is a slight wrinkling on the skin of the fingertips, like the owner had stayed in the bath too long.
But Lansdown said the majority of the specimens were 50 to 60 years old, because modern laws meant it was difficult to acquire new body parts for display.
He said, however, that the museum's collection was already comprehensive and the introduction of self-guided audio tours meant it could now be seen by the general public. "We've always wanted people to have access to what we believe is an amazing resource and now they can."
Neil Sands is a writer for the AFP news agency.
