Medicine

Janet Copeland introduces one of the most important feminist figures in twentieth-century history.

Richard Willis charts how order was brought to the medical profession by the foundation of the General Medical Council 150 years ago.

Paddy Hartley describes how an interest in the treatment of facial injuries in the First World War led him to develop a new form of sculpture.

Anthea Gerrie explores a remarkable excavation, a Roman surgeon’s house in Rimini.

In the late 18th century, a French invasion force marched into Portugal. Napoleon was insisting that Portugal must close its ports to British shipping. When it failed to comply, the invading army was given orders to march on Lisbon and seize the royal family. The Queen and her family fled to Brazil, and by this time, Maria I of Portugal had been insane for more than fifteen years. 

Neil Pemberton and Michael Worboys tell the fascinating story of how rabies – a disease that still kills thousands worldwide every year – was eradicated from Britain.

As Britain gets used to the ban on smoking in public spaces, Virginia Berridge looks at the way attitudes to public health have changed in the last fifty years, particularly among the medical profession.

Robert Bud says we should remember the Asian flu epidemic of 1957 as a turning point in the history of antibiotics.

Richard Cavendish remembers the events of December 12th, 1905.

Ole J. Benedictow describes how he calculated that the Black Death killed 50 million people in the 14th century, or 60 per cent of Europe’s entire population.

Richard Cavendish marks the funeral of one of medicine's most eminent pioneers, on March 18th, 1955.

Yehuda Koren tells one family’s remarkable story of surviving Auschwitz.

Virginia Berridge examines the relevance of past experiences to current policy-making.