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 picturesMoles’ feet, dried frogs and other folk medicinesEarly-20th-century folklorist Edward Lovett made it his mission to discover the nation’s beliefs and superstitions, collecting amulets from cottage cupboards up and down the country.In picturesHow Brits went soft on toilet paperTwentieth-century studies reveal a whole host of anxieties about the terrors of soft toilet paper.In picturesFinding the ‘men’ in mental healthExplore how ideas about masculinity have influenced the way men talk about and experience their mental health, from the 1800s to today.In picturesElectric marvels in the age of enlightenmentHow our understanding of electricity has grown, from novelty to the pulse of modern life – and the inner fire that powers the human machine.In picturesThe serious side of historical gamesSome games carry a weighty message, from the earliest form of snakes and ladders that led to either heaven or hell, to chess pieces representing the dangerous manoeuvres of unsafe sex in the 80s.In picturesThe birth of ante-natal classesIs childbirth an athletic feat? Kathleen Vaughan certainly thought so, developing the first modern exercise class for women in pregnancy.In picturesSouthern Italy’s centuries-long dancing maniaHow the symptom of a terrifying sickness became a lively folk dance in southern Italy.In picturesMedical manipulations and the history of physiotherapyFrom gymnastics to splints and uterine massage, the history of physiotherapy takes in a surprisingly broad range of people and practices.ArticleA medieval guide to practical magicWith few sources of effective help available when treating an injured patient, the medieval physician could instead stage a healing ceremony using a practical how-to guide he carried with him.In picturesThe aphrodisiac apothecaryNot in the mood? Come and visit our traditional drug store for natural tonics rumoured to increase sexual desire.In picturesSuperstition, contagion and medical rumourThe great generator of confusion, rumours have not spared human health from their chaos. Find out how whispers, gossip and rumours have caused medical mishaps through the ages.In picturesChinese pillow historyWhat is the ideal pillow? In Chinese culture, the ideal shifted over time, and views on a good sleep also reveal attitudes about studying, love, food and drink.In picturesFaces from the archivesMeet some of the lesser-known but no less extraordinary figures in the history of medicine, through a series of original portraits.In picturesFrom female impersonation to dragHow did drag develop from light-hearted female impersonation to a world-dominating art form?In picturesHumans, animals and the sensory worldArtists and medics through the ages have made links between our discerning human senses and similar traits in animals. Discover how close we are to the earth’s other inhabitants.In picturesThe death-defying science of the aeronautsAir ballooning is not as serene as you might think. Read about the perilous exploits of two early aeronauts who risked life and limb to better understand the science of the weather.In picturesThe evolution of war-zone medicineThe need to deal with battlefield injuries has led to inventive designs for extreme situations. Find out how camel-drawn ambulances and flat-pack hospitals have helped casualties survive.In picturesBorn to playOur understanding of the importance of play in a child’s development has become increasingly sophisticated over the centuries. Explore the ways different eras have regarded childhood games.In picturesThe lost art of convalescenceThe efficacy of antibiotics and the demands of work mean we rarely convalesce after an illness. But in the past it was an important part of the return to health.In picturesTesla, quacks and violet raysImagine a device that can treat everything from baldness to gout. Too good to be true? Yes, and it was banned – but not before hundreds were hoodwinked.Previous (page 5)Page 6 of 9Next (page 7)
