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109 results
  • Agrimonia eupatoria L. Agrimony, Eupatorium, Maudlein. Perennial herb. The species name comes from king Mithridates Eupator VI of Pontus (132-63 BC) who took regular doses of poison to develop an immunity to them. A 'Mithridate' was a medicine against poisons. Distribution: N. and S. Africa, N. Asia, Europe. '…provokes urine and the terms [periods], dries the brain, opens stoppings, helps the green sickness [iron deficiency anaemia], and profits such as have a cold weak liver outwardly applied it takes away the hardness of the matrix [=uterus] and fills hollow ulcers with flesh' (Culpeper, 1650). Dioscorides (Beck, 2005) recommends mashed leaves in hog's grease for healing scarring ulcers, and the seed in wine for dysentery and serpent bites. Goodyear's 1655 translation of Dioscorides (Gunther 2000) has this as cannabis, which Parkinson (1640) says is in error and summarises the manifold uses from classical authors, from removing splinters to stopping menorrhagia. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Euphorbia milii Des Moul. Euphorbiaceae. Crown of Thorns - so called because of its very spiny stems. Distribution: Madagascar. The latex contains a copper-containing amine oxidase, a lectin, lipase, peroxidase, and a diamine oxidase. In vitro the latex is synergistic with ketoconazole against Candida albicans (thrush). All Euphorbia have a toxic white latex, and in Europe this has been used as a folk remedy to treat warts. It can cause skin allergies and the smoke from burning them is toxic. the genus named for Euphorbus (fl. circa 10 BC – 20 AD), the Greek physician to the Berber King Juba II (c. 50 BC – 23 AD) of Numidia, Euphorbia milii is one of the tropical spurges, with fierce, cactus-like spines, grown as a house plant. The sap of spurges is used in folk medicine for treating warts (not very effective), and, historically, as a purgative - the word spurge being derived from the French word for purgation. The sap (probably dried) was administered inside a fig because it is so corrosive that it would otherwise burn the mouth and oesophagus – a technique used today, rather more subtly, with ‘enteric coated’ medications. The sap contains a potential anti-leukaemic chemical, lasiodoplin, and is also used in drainage ditches to kill the snails which carry the parasitic trematode which causes fasciolaris. It does not kill the fish. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Asphodeline lutea Rchb. Yellow asphodel, King's spear, Hastula regia. Hardy rhizomatous perennial. Distribution Mediterranean and Caucasus. It is the flower of the dead, as Homer writes that it carpets an area in the gloomy darkness of the underworld (Hades), in Greek mythology where the souls of the dead are found. However this may be a misinterpretation of the Greek where 'Asphodel' has been read instead of 'ash-filled'. In the etymology of flower names, it is suggested that the yellow 'daffodil' is a corruption of French or Flemish 'de asphodel' (both ex Steve Reece, 2007). An Aristotelian epigram, refers to it growing on tombs: 'On my back I hold mallow and many-rooted asphodel ...' The asphodel was sacred to Persephone, goddess of the underworld, who was seized and wed by Hades, god of the underworld, and taken to his kingdom. Her disappearance brings the winter, and her reappearance each year, the spring. The only reliable source of information about its early medical uses is, probably, Dioscorides although the plant in his De Materia Medica may be A. ramosus or A. albus. He gives its properties as diuretic, induces menses, good for coughs and convulsions, an antidote to snake bite, applied as a poultice for sores of all sorts, and in compounds for eye, ear and tooth pains, and to cure alopecia and vitiligo, but induces diarrhoea and vomiting and is an anti-aphrodisiac. Fuchs (1542), as Ruel’s commentaries (1543) note, makes a big mistake as he has Lilium martagon as his concept of A. luteus. Ruel only illustrates its leaves and roots, calling it Hastula regia (Latin for King’s spear) but Matthiolus's Commentaries (1569 edition) has a reasonable woodcut also as Hastula regia (1569). Dodoen's Cruydeboeck (1556) does not mention or illustrate Asphodelus luteus. L'Escluse's French translation Histoire des Plantes (1557) follows the Cruydeboeck. Dodoen's Latin translation Stirpium Historia Pemptades Sex (1583) adds A. luteus with text and woodcut, with no uses. Henry Lyte's (1578) translation illustrates Asphodelus luteus as Asphodeli tertia species and 'Yellow affodyl' (vide etymology of 'daffodil') and also does not describe any uses for it. Gerard's translation The Herbal (1597 and 1633) continues the muddle and does not give any uses for this plant. Parkinson's comments (1640) on the lack of medicinal properties of asphodels, refer to quite different plants coming from wet areas in Lancashire, Scotland and Norway . He calls them pseudoasphodelus major and minor which he writes are called Asphodelus luteus palustris by Dodoens, and not 'King's Spear' which he illustrates with a good woodcut of A. luteus and calls it Asphodelus luteus minor. Once herbals started to be written in northern Europe, the knowledge of the arid loving, Asphodelus luteus of south east Europe was lost. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • HIV can be treated : take control- take the test / King's College Hospital.
  • HIV can be treated : take control- take the test / King's College Hospital.
  • HIV can be treated : take control- take the test / King's College Hospital.
  • HIV can be treated : take control- take the test / King's College Hospital.
  • HIV can be treated : take control- take the test / King's College Hospital.
  • HIV can be treated : take control- take the test / King's College Hospital.
  • Anterior neural plate, mouse
  • Certain necessary directions, as well for the cure of the plague, as for preventing the infection with many easie medicines of small charge, very profitable to His Majesties subjects / Set downe by the Colledge of Physicians by the Kings Majesties speciall command. With sundry orders thought meet by His Majestie, and his Privie Councell for prevention of the plague. Also certaine select statutes ... Together with His Majesties proclamation for further direction therein and a decree in Starre-Chamber. Concerning buildings and in-mates.
  • 3D-printed reconstruction of a healthy adult human brain
  • 3D printed reconstruction of the arcuate fasciculus.
  • King's College Association Football Club: group portrait of team for the 1923-1924 season. Photograph, ca. 1923.
  • The Chelsea College: aerial view from the north with boats on the river. Engraving by I. Barlow, 1805.
  • King James's College, Chelsea: bird's eye view looking south with boats on the river. Engraving by I. Barlow.
  • King's College Medical School students visiting the Parke, Davis & Co. Laboratories, Hounslow. Photograph, 1924.
  • Oral and dental services for people with HIV / King's Healthcare HIV & GUM Dental Services.
  • Oral and dental services for people with HIV / King's Healthcare HIV & GUM Dental Services.
  • Oral and dental services for people with HIV / King's Healthcare HIV & GUM Dental Services.
  • Oral and dental services for people with HIV / King's Healthcare HIV & GUM Dental Services.
  • Oral and dental services for people with HIV / King's Healthcare HIV & GUM Dental Services.
  • Thomas Bell. Mezzotint by G. Zobel after Taples.
  • Charles Kingsley Ackland.
  • Charles Kingsley Ackland.
  • Browning's spectroscopes : spectrum apparatus for the microscope ... / John Browning.
  • Browning's spectroscopes : spectrum apparatus for the microscope ... / John Browning.
  • The Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London: the facade. Engraving by Cook, c.1800, after J. C. Barrow.
  • William Adams, "Bumptious Billy". Photograph.
  • William Adams, "Bumptious Billy". Photograph by J.E. Mayall.