Home| StoriesInside our collectionsSeriesshow credit information for image 'Woodblock: Ambrosia altera'Woodblock: Ambrosia altera, Benjamin Gilbert. Source: Wellcome Collection. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).In picturesWe are the survivors of slow-motion epidemicsPioneering epidemiologist Dr Alice Stewart realised how things in our daily lives could be as deadly as any infectious disease.In picturesHistorical ways to hang on to your hairCould upper-class hair-hygiene regimes cause baldness, or does hair health depend on a blast of deadly mercury? Maisie Jenkins scours the archives for historic follicle care.In picturesLudwig Guttmann and the birth of the ParalympicsAs millions across the world enjoy this year’s Paralympics, discover how the Paralympian movement started life – with an event held by the visionary neurosurgeon Ludwig Guttmann.In picturesA visual history of cancerCancer has a reputation as a modern disease, but these historical images show that it’s been part of our lives for centuries.In picturesResponses to Brook’s sex education guidesBrook Advisory Centres provided relatable sex-education information to young people, but their popular material sometimes resulted in criticism from politicians and the media.In picturesMedieval mobility aidsThere are clues in the margins of medieval manuscripts to suggest that disabled people in the past made long pilgrimages, and were helped on their journeys by mobility aids remarkably similar to those we have today.ArticleDuelling doctorsAn enduring enthusiasm for 18th-century gentlemen to defend their ‘honour’ by duelling placed doctors in a delicate position. Specially when they faced being shot themselves.In picturesThe grape cureWhen we bring someone in hospital a bunch of grapes, we don't expect the grapes to work a miraculous cure upon them. But throughout history, wondrous healing powers have been attributed to the humble grape.ArticleA history of gestation outside the bodyIt’s been over 400 years since a Swiss alchemist theorised that foetuses could develop outside the womb. Claire Horn examines incubator technology past and present, and explores the possibilities recent prototypes might bring.In picturesChinese fashion and the history of the cloud collarDiscover the accessory that has captivated people for centuries, from seventh-century buddhas to 21st-century fashion subcultures.In picturesExpressions of joyDoes everyone express joy in the same way and can you always recognise it? Find out the conclusions drawn by artists, philosophers and scientists who have studied the way humans express emotion.In picturesAn emotional journey through drinkDavid Jesudason’s relationship with alcohol is complicated. Here he explores how booze can shape our behaviour, describing how he’s matured from underage drinker to cask-ale connoisseur.ArticleThe enigma of the medieval folding almanacWith its combination of rich, portable data and high-end style, this folding almanac could have been the medieval equivalent of the latest iPhone.In picturesFollowing the maker’s path into the lost art of medieval embroideryTextile maker Jacqui Carey unravels the mysteries of medieval embroidery by recreating the materials and techniques for herself, with the help of clues left by the original makers.ArticleAn animated almanac for the modern worldDiscover why Thomas Coleman wanted to make a medieval folding almanac relevant to the modern world and see the film for yourself.ArticleDivining the world through an artist’s almanacAmanda Couch's artists book, 'Huwawa in the Everyday: an almanac' is inspired by the entrail like folds of a medieval folding and its function as a guide for astrological divinations linking the body, health and the heavens. Like the original almanac her work is designed to be carried out into the wider world.In picturesHerbal medicines and the early modern menopauseHeld responsible for their own “rebellious distempers” – or menopausal symptoms – women had no choice but to keep quiet and resort to unpalatable concoctions in the hope of relief, as Julia Nurse explains.In picturesThe original drama of operating theatresMedicine as ‘theatre’ began in the 16th century, when paying audiences enjoyed candlelight, live music – and a cadaver being dissected in front of them, all the in name of education.In picturesThe weird folklore of British cakesIf you fancy a slice of cake with your tea this afternoon, read on to find out how your luck, health or marriage prospects might change as you munch.ArticleBleeding healthyFor thousands of years, and in many different cultures, people have practised bloodletting for health and medical reasons. Julia Nurse explains where and when bleeding was used, how it was done, and why.Previous (page 2)Page 3 of 8Next (page 4)
