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  • Adenochoiradelogia, or, An anatomick-chirurgical treatise of glandules & strumaes, or Kings-Evil-swellings : Together with the royal gift of healing, or cure thereof by contact or imposition of hands, performed for above 640 years by our Kings of England, continued with their admirable effects, and miraculous events; and concluded with many wonderful examples of cures by their sacred touch / All which are succinctly described by John Browne.
  • Adenochoiradelogia, or, An anatomick-chirurgical treatise of glandules & strumaes, or Kings-Evil-swellings : Together with the royal gift of healing, or cure thereof by contact or imposition of hands, performed for above 640 years by our Kings of England, continued with their admirable effects, and miraculous events; and concluded with many wonderful examples of cures by their sacred touch / All which are succinctly described by John Browne.
  • Succisia pratensis Greene Asteraceae. Devil’s Bit Scabious, Blue Buttons. Distribution: Europe, W Asia, Africa. Culpeper (1650), under ‘Herbs’ he writes: ‘Succisa, Morsus diobolo, Devil’s Bit. Inwardly taken it easeth the fits of the mother [probably uterine spasm or pain], and breaks wind, taketh away the swellings in the mouth, and slimy phlegm that sticks to the jaws, neither is there a more present remedy in the world, for those cold swellings of the neck, which the vulgar call the Almonds [lymph nodes] of the neck than this herb bruised and applied to them. Folk lore attribute it as a cure-all which was so successful that the Devil bit off the bottom of the roots when he saw it growing down into Hades. However, the roots show no sign of such damage to support the myth. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • A surgeon applying the method of cupping to Ragotin, who believes his body has swelled in his sleep. Engraving by G. Huquier the elder after J.B. Oudry.
  • A surgeon applying the method of cupping to Ragotin, who believes his body has swelled in his sleep. Engraving by G. Huquier the elder after J.B. Oudry.
  • Fowke & Aston's improved diuretic balls : for swelled legs, grease, cracked heels, gravel, and affections of the kidneys, for removing all obstructions in the urinary passages, and humours of the eyes, or any other part of the body ... / prepared only by Fowke & Aston.
  • Trachymyrmex septentrionalis is the northernmost fungus growing ant, and is abundant in pine flat forests throughout the Eastern USA, ranging as far north as Long Island, New York. In this symbiosis, T. septentrionalis ants collect plant material and insect feces, which they feed to a specific "cultivar" fungus that they farm in underground gardens. Once the fungus has digested this food, it forms nutrient-rich swellings that the ants feed upon. The ants also protect their cultivar fungus from disease using antibiotic-producing Pseudonocardia bacteria that reside on the ants' proplueral plates (i.e., "chest"). The ants therefore both farm the cultivar fungus as their food source and protect it by "crop spraying" antibiotics produced by their symbiotic Pseudonocardia bacteria.
  • Trachymyrmex septentrionalis is the northernmost fungus growing ant, and is abundant in pine flat forests throughout the Eastern USA, ranging as far north as Long Island, New York. In this symbiosis, T. septentrionalis ants collect plant material and insect feces, which they feed to a specific "cultivar" fungus that they farm in underground gardens. Once the fungus has digested this food, it forms nutrient-rich swellings that the ants feed upon. The ants also protect their cultivar fungus from disease using antibiotic-producing Pseudonocardia bacteria that reside on the ants' proplueral plates (i.e., "chest"). The ants therefore both farm the cultivar fungus as their food source and protect it by "crop spraying" antibiotics produced by their symbiotic Pseudonocardia bacteria.
  • Scabiosa columbaria L. Dipsacaceae. Small scabious. Distribution: Europe. Culpeper (1650) writes: ‘The roots either boiled or beaten into powder and so taken, helps such as are extremely troubled with scabs and itch, are medicinal in the French-pocks [syphilis], hard swellings, inward wounds ...’ The genus name comes from the Latin word scabies, meaning ‘itch’. According to the Doctrine of Signatures, the rough leaves indicated that it would cure eczematous skin. However, the leaves are not really very rough... Not used in herbal medicine at the present time except in Southern Africa where it is used for colic and heartburn, and the roots made into an ointment for curing wounds (van Wyk, 2000). Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. Asteraceae. English, Roman or garden chamomile Distribution: Europe, Mediterranean. Culpeper (1650): “... assuage swellings, inflammations of the bowels, dissolve wind, are profitable given in clysters or drink, to such as are troubled with colic or [renal] stone.” The leaves are pleasantly fragrant, hence its use as a lawn plant, but also in aromatherapy. A ‘tea’ made from the flowers is apparently used to lighten hair colour. Chamomile contains sesquiterpene lactones, and these are known to possess allergenic properties. Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported in this and other members of the Compositae (Asteraceae) and cross sensitivity reactions may occur (Medicines Control Agency, 2002). Analgesic, and used for cramps and spasms (Quincy, 1718). Chamomile tea is used to help sleep, but may cause uterine contractions so avoid in pregnancy (US National Institutes of Health advice). Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Cupiss' constitution balls for horses, cattle & sheep : are superior to all other medicine, and less expensive by reason of their lasting benefit, in cases of swelled legs, grease, cracked heels, surfeit, staring coat, colic, hide bound, loss of appetite, hove or blown, influenza, broken wind, strangles, sore throats, epidemic, coughs, colds, distemper, disordered liver, scouring, rot in sheep, gargate, conditioning, wasting, preserving health, &c. ... / Francis Cupiss.
  • Cupiss' constitution balls for horses, cattle & sheep : are superior to all other medicine, and less expensive by reason of their lasting benefit, in cases of swelled legs, grease, cracked heels, surfeit, staring coat, colic, hide bound, loss of appetite, hove or blown, influenza, broken wind, strangles, sore throats, epidemic, coughs, colds, distemper, disordered liver, scouring, rot in sheep, gargate, conditioning, wasting, preserving health, &c. ... / Francis Cupiss.
  • Cupiss' constitution balls for horses, cattle & sheep : are superior to all other medicine, and less expensive by reason of their lasting benefit, in cases of swelled legs, grease, cracked heels, surfeit, staring coat, colic, hide bound, loss of appetite, hove or blown, influenza, broken wind, strangles, sore throats, epidemic, coughs, colds, distemper, disordered liver, scouring, rot in sheep, gargate, conditioning, wasting, preserving health, &c. ... / Francis Cupiss.
  • Cupiss' constitution balls for horses, cattle & sheep : are superior to all other medicine, and less expensive by reason of their lasting benefit, in cases of swelled legs, grease, cracked heels, surfeit, staring coat, colic, hide bound, loss of appetite, hove or blown, influenza, broken wind, strangles, sore throats, epidemic, coughs, colds, distemper, disordered liver, scouring, rot in sheep, gargate, conditioning, wasting, preserving health, &c. ... / Francis Cupiss.
  • Cupiss' constitution balls for horses, cattle & sheep : are superior to all other medicine, and less expensive by reason of their lasting benefit, in cases of swelled legs, grease, cracked heels, surfeit, staring coat, colic, hide bound, loss of appetite, hove or blown, influenza, broken wind, strangles, sore throats, epidemic, coughs, colds, distemper, disordered liver, scouring, rot in sheep, gargate, conditioning, wasting, preserving health, &c. ... / Francis Cupiss.
  • Cupiss' constitution balls for horses, cattle & sheep : are superior to all other medicine, and less expensive by reason of their lasting benefit, in cases of swelled legs, grease, cracked heels, surfeit, staring coat, colic, hide bound, loss of appetite, hove or blown, influenza, broken wind, strangles, sore throats, epidemic, coughs, colds, distemper, disordered liver, scouring, rot in sheep, gargate, conditioning, wasting, preserving health, &c. ... / Francis Cupiss.
  • Paris quadrifolia L. Trilliaceae Herb Paris Distribution: Europe and temperate Asia. This dramatic plant was known as Herb Paris or one-berry. Because of the shape of the four leaves, resembling a Burgundian cross or a true love-knot, it was also known as Herb True Love. Prosaically, the name ‘Paris’ stems from the Latin ‘pars’ meaning ‘parts’ referring to the four equal leaves, and not to the French capital or the lover of Helen of Troy. Sixteenth century herbalists such as Fuchs, who calls it Aconitum pardalianches which means leopard’s bane, and Lobel who calls it Solanum tetraphyllum, attributed the poisonous properties of Aconitum to it. The latter, called monkshood and wolfsbane, are well known as poisonous garden plants. Gerard (1633), however, reports that Lobel fed it to animals and it did them no harm, and caused the recovery of a dog poisoned deliberately with arsenic and mercury, while another dog, which did not receive Herb Paris, died. It was recommended thereafter as an antidote to poisons. Coles (1657) wrote 'Herb Paris is exceedingly cold, wherupon it is proved to represse the rage and force of any Poyson, Humour , or Inflammation.' Because of its 'cold' property it was good for swellings of 'the Privy parts' (where presumably hot passions were thought to lie), to heal ulcers, cure poisoning, plague, procure sleep (the berries) and cure colic. Through the concept of the Doctrine of Signatures, the black berry represented an eye, so oil distilled from it was known as Anima oculorum, the soul of the eye, and 'effectual for all the disease of the eye'. Linnaeus (1782) listed it as treating 'Convulsions, Mania, Bubones, Pleurisy, Opththalmia', but modern authors report the berry to be toxic. That one poison acted as an antidote to another was a common, if incorrect, belief in the days of herbal medicine. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • A woman with a deformed and swollen face, possibly Trophomeurosis (?). Caption: 'Trophoedeme de la Face'
  • Illustration of male pubis and penis diseased with Syphilis
  • Human macrophage rupturing after infection with Chlamydia
  • Early C20 Chinese Lithograph: 'Fan' diseases
  • Chinese C19 woodcut: 'Throat Wind' conditions
  • C18 Chinese woodcut: Inflammation of the throat
  • C18 Chinese woodcut: Galloping pharyngitis
  • Chinese woodcut: Pathology of 'obstructive throat wind'
  • C18 Chinese woodcut: Over-exertion laryngitis
  • Chinese C18 woodcut: External medicine - Miliaria (peilei)
  • Leprosy of the skin: an Indian man with nodules on his chest and a discoloured face. Watercolour (by Jane Jackson ?), 1921/1950 (?), after a (painting ?) by Ernest Muir, ca. 1921.
  • Chinese woodcut: Obstruction of the urinary tract
  • Chinese woodcut: Abscesses -- fugu and duikou abscess