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  • Siena in the Black Death: Saint Bernardus Ptolomeus comforting sick people. Process print by Stab. Sansaini.
  • The black death: map of the world, with vignettes. Watercolour by Monro S. Orr.
  • The black death: map of the world, with vignettes. Watercolour by Monro S. Orr.
  • A pink triangle against a black backdrop with the words 'Silence=Death' representing an advertisement for the Silence=Death Project used by permission by ACT-UP, The AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power. Colour lithograph, 1987.
  • Alcoholism: Death as a skeleton clothed in black comes to seize a family destroyed by alcohol abuse. Colour lithograph by M. Biro, 19--.
  • Numerous death crosses in black against a white background with the names of people who have died of AIDS; a warning issued by Abraco. Colour lithograph by McCann/JM, ca. 1996.
  • Numerous death crosses in black against a white background with the names of people who have died of AIDS; a warning issued by Abraco. Colour lithograph by McCann/JM, ca. 1990's.
  • A skeleton holding up a sign bearing the warning 'AIDS: the death warrant!" against a black background; an AIDS prevention advertisement by the Central Health Education Bureau in New Delhi. Colour lithograph, ca. 199-.
  • The figure of death in a red cloak bearing the words 'AIDS' and 'HIV' with his scythe and a syringe bearing the word 'heroin' piercing the black silhouette of a reclining figure; a drug safety and AIDS prevention advertisement by the Committee on AIDS Hanoi. Colour lithograph, ca. 1995.
  • Compilation of newspaper cuttings including a group of protesters; one wears a death mask and cloak, another carries a banner with the slogan: 'Boycott Wellcome products''; an advertisement for the campaign Act Up Manchester in support of care for those with AIDS. Black and white photocopy with red.
  • Senna corymbosa (Lam.)H.S.Irwin&Barneby Caesalpinaceae. Argentine Senna. Distribution: Argentine (other species from Europe). This beautiful shrub that flowers from midsummer until the frosts of winter, is the source of one of the best known of all herbal medicines – Senokot (and senna pods and senna tea), introduced to European medicine (as Senna alexandrina from Egypt) by the Arabians. Every part of the plant contains anthraquinones which, if taken internally, act as a powerful laxative to treat constipation by stimulating the nerve cells of the large bowel. Gerard (1633) notes ‘it is a singular purging medicine’ with over a page on its uses. When used regularly the nerves to the large bowel may be destroyed, leaving a permanently dilated large bowel that never functions properly again. This is a plant which causes the condition it treats to become permanent. Additionally, with prolonged use, the lining of the bowel turns black, serum potassium levels may fall, resulting in cardiac irregularities and sometimes death. Coma, neuropathy and hepatitis have also been reported. It is advertised on television (the actor involved is seen to be depressed and bloated until she takes Senokot, after which she is happy - Hippocrates would have attributed this antidepressant effect to the plant's ability to purge her of the black melancholic humour present in her bowel motions). It is available without prescription or health warning against long-term use. What do you think? Lyte (1578) recommends it strongly for depression, but one might claim to be cured rather than take it again. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Senna corymbosa (Lam.)H.S.Irwin&Barneby Caesalpinaceae. Argentine Senna. Distribution: Argentine (other species from Europe). This beautiful shrub that flowers from midsummer until the frosts of winter, is the source of one of the best known of all herbal medicines – Senokot (and senna pods and senna tea), introduced to European medicine (as Senna alexandrina from Egypt) by the Arabians. Every part of the plant contains anthraquinones which, if taken internally, act as a powerful laxative to treat constipation by stimulating the nerve cells of the large bowel. Gerard (1633) notes ‘it is a singular purging medicine’ with over a page on its uses. When used regularly the nerves to the large bowel may be destroyed, leaving a permanently dilated large bowel that never functions properly again. This is a plant which causes the condition it treats to become permanent. Additionally, with prolonged use, the lining of the bowel turns black, serum potassium levels may fall, resulting in cardiac irregularities and sometimes death. Coma, neuropathy and hepatitis have also been reported. It is advertised on television (the actor involved is seen to be depressed and bloated until she takes Senokot, after which she is happy - Hippocrates would have attributed this antidepressant effect to the plant's ability to purge her of the black melancholic humour present in her bowel motions). It is available without prescription or health warning against long-term use. What do you think? Lyte (1578) recommends it strongly for depression, but one might claim to be cured rather than take it again. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • The Loggia, Piazza del campo, Siena
  • Boccaccio's 'The plague of Florence in 1348'
  • Reverse of Boccaccio's 'The plague of Florence in 1348'
  • Boccaccio's 'The plague of Florence in 1348'
  • Reverse of Boccaccio's 'The plague of Florence in 1348'
  • Boccaccio's 'The plague of Florence in 1348'
  • A selection of four lead mortuary crosses, placed on the body of a plague victim, found on the site of the old Grey Friars Monastery, Newgate Street, Lonodn (replicas)
  • A selection of four lead mortuary crosses, placed on the body of a plague victim, found on the site of the old Grey Friars Monastery, Newgate Street, Lonodn (replicas)
  • A selection of four lead mortuary crosses, placed on the body of a plague victim, found on the site of the old Grey Friars Monastery, Newgate Street, Lonodn (replicas)
  • The plague in London, 1665. Etching by A. Smith, 1810, after R. Smirke.
  • The plague in London, 1665. Etching by A. Smith, 1810, after R. Smirke.
  • The horse of Dick Turpin, Black Bess, dies of exhaustion after Turpin tries to escape from his pursuers. Lithograph by W. Clerk, 1839.
  • DNA sequence of CCR5 Delta 32 gene mutation
  • DNA sequence of CCR5 Delta 32 gene mutation
  • DNA sequence of CCR5 Delta 32 gene mutation
  • Evolution of Measures for the Nation's Health.
  • A Pakistani man and woman within a red no entry sign representing a warning about the dangers of unsafe sex and AIDS. Colour lithograph, ca. 1996.
  • The silhouette profiles of a woman wearing a red earing and nose ring facing a man with a moustache representing a warning that 'AIDS is death'. Colour lithograph, ca. 1996.