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  • God appears radiantly behind a black cloud as Moses swings an incense burner; four people are washing their feet and hands in preparation. Etching.
  • A young woman wearing a crown deposists a flower garland on a tomb and burns incense on a stone nearby. Line engraving.
  • Illicium anisatum L. Illiciaceae Japanese Star Anise. Distribution Japan. This was also called Illicium religiosum and the fruits are toxic. Effects of taking Illicium anisatum tea include epilepsy, vomiting, shakiness and rapid eye movements (US Food and Drug Administration report, 2003). Lindley (1838) and Bentley (1861) thought that I. anisatum was used in cooking, but they were describing the uses of I. verum which is used as a spice in Asia. Illicium anisatum syn. religiosum is 'used to make incense in Japanese and Chinese temples and was called Skimi by Kaempfer. This derives from the Japanese word 'shi-kimi'. The seed pods of both species contain shikimic acid (the name being derived from the Japanese) from which Tamiflu, the antiviral drug was synthesised. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Illicium verum Hook.f. Illiciaceae Chinese Star Anise Distribution: China. Illicium anisatum Japanese Star Anise. Distribution Japan. Illicium verum is used as a spice in Asian cooking and for Star Anise tea. The distilled oil is added to cough mixture used by children. Introduced to Europe in 1588 (Pharmacographia Indica, 1890). Illicium anisatum syn. religiosum, has been confused with it (Lindley, 1838, Bentley 1861) but is poisonous and was used to make incense in Japanese and Chinese temples. It was called Skimi by Kaempfer. The seed pods of both species contain shikimic acid (the name being derived from the Japanese word for the plant - shi-kimi) from which Tamiflu, the antiviral drug was synthesised. 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.
  • A virtuous Athenian woman pouring incense on to a flaming tripod. Engraving by J.J. Flipart after J.M. Vien.
  • Erasistratus, a physician, realising that Antiochus's (son of Seleucus I) illness is lovesickness for his stepmother Stratonice, by observing that Antiochus's pulse rose when ever he saw her. Mezzotint by V. Green, 1776, after B. West.
  • Erasistratus, a physician, realising that the illness of Antiochus (son of Seleucus I) is lovesickness for his stepmother Stratonice, by observing that Antiochus's pulse rate rises when ever he sees her. Engraving by P. Baquoy after A. Desenne after G. de Lairesse.
  • Erasistratus, a physician, realising that Antiochus's (son of Seleucus I) illness is lovesickness for his stepmother Stratonice, by observing that Antiochus's pulse rose whenever he sees her. Stipple engraving by G. Graham, 1793, after B. West.
  • Erasistratus, a physician, realising that Antiochus's (son of Seleucus I) illness is lovesickness for his stepmother Stratonice, by observing that Antiochus's pulse rose whenever he sees her. Stipple engraving by G. Graham, 1793, after B. West.
  • Antiochus is reclining on a bed while his physician Erasistratus is taking his pulse; King Seleucus and Queen Stratonice are seated at his bedside. Engraving by L. de Visscher after P. Berrettini da Cortona, ca. 1680.
  • Erasistratus, a physician, realising that Antiochus's (son of Seleucus I) illness is lovesickness for his stepmother Stratonice, by observing that Antiochus's pulse rose whenever he saw her. Pencil drawing.
  • Erasistratus, a physician, realising that Antiochus's (son of Seleucus I) illness is lovesickness for his stepmother Stratonice, by observing that Antiochus's pulse rose whenever he saw her. Line engraving by J.C. Levasseur, 1769, after H. Collin de Vermont, 1727.
  • Erasistratus, a physician, realising that the illness of Antiochus (son of Seleucus I) is lovesickness for his stepmother Stratonice, by observing that Antiochus's pulse rose when ever he saw her. Coloured engraving by W.W. Ryland, 1772, after Pietro da Cortona.
  • Egyptian wall relief, taken 1989
  • Amoy, Fukien province, China. Photograph, 1981, from a negative by John Thomson, 1870/1871.
  • Japanese funeral customs: a Buddhist monk kneels before a coffin; mourners kneel behind him. Watercolour, ca. 1880 (?).
  • Ningbo, Zhejiang, China: Ningbo Tianhou Temple or Qingan Guildhall. Photograph by John Thomson, 1870/1871.
  • Ningbo, Zhejiang, China: Ningbo Tianhou Temple or Qingan Guildhall. Photograph by John Thomson, 1870/1871.
  • Egyptian wall relief, taken 1989
  • Peking, Pechili province, China. Photograph, 1981, from a negative by John Thomson, 1869.
  • Peking, Pechili province, China. Photograph, 1981, from a negative by John Thomson, 1869.
  • A woman posing naked leaning on a table with a book under her arm.
  • The resurrected Christ appears before the apostles and other people. Etching.
  • A French supporter of the Paris Commune prefers to throw an incendiary bomb to advance equality, while a British workman prefers to smoke his pipe in the interests of liberty. Wood engraving by J. Swain, ca. 1871, after Sir J. Tenniel.
  • China: a Manchu woman with her maid standing beside a bronze burner, Beijing. Photograph by John Thomson, 1869.
  • China: a Manchu woman with her maid standing beside a bronze burner, Beijing. Photograph by John Thomson, 1869.
  • Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Penetrating Vessel
  • Chinese Materia Dietetica, Ming: Sesame oil
  • Acupuncture prohibitions for pregnancy, Chinese/Japanese