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Latest exhibition at the Royal College of Nursing open to visit just down the road form the RCP at RCN HQ 👇 www.rcn.org.uk/library-exhi...

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This recipe book compiled 1644-1691 includes 3 cures 'Against Biting of a Mad dog'. Could this be rabies in the archive? #worldrabiesday 🧵 1. 'A poultice for ye biting of a mad dog' made with the bitten person's urine, boiled bread, turpentine and rose or chamomile oil applied to the bite.

Handwritten recipe: A poultice for ye biting of a mad dog.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

1724-1858: the RCP appointed itself inspector of apothecaries. The registers give a curt verdict on each shop ranging from ‘good’ to ‘tolerable’ or even ‘execrable’. Mr Horne stood up to the physicians to ‘question and resist their authority’ – an early advocate for #EmpoweringPharmacists #WPD2026

Inspection report for Horne's chemist shop on Southampton Row. "This man was very much disposed to question & resist the authority of the College & he is particularly recommended to future Censors to revisit, examine, & [illegible]"

List of medicines, most rated good or very good, but cinnamon rated "good for nothing".

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

We loved welcoming a huge range of people to our Grade I listed building for London Open House on Saturday. A record-breaking 545 visitors joined us for architecture, history and crafts. Don't worry if you missed it! There are lots of other opportunities to visit: history.rcp.ac.uk/visit-us

A main leans down over a museum display case so his chin is touching the glass. He's in a clean-lined modernist space, with massive windows behind him.

Two women look an an old book resting on foam supports in a historic library.

A child sits at a table covered in colouring pens and pencils, concentrating hard on some colouring in. A man sits next to her, smiling fondly.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

📣New blog 📣 ‘The Gàidhealtachd in the World of British Medicine’. PhD researcher Euan Bowman on placement at the RCP kept an eye out for wee slices of his Scottish home in our collections. His blog shares his insights into Gaels & the British medical establishment history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/gaidhea...

A small Scottish croft is just visible on a otherwise empty coastal heath by the sea in Kilmaluag, Skye.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

We are reopening to visits tomorrow 2 September! Pop by for a drop-in visit, or why not book free to join our taster tour at 1.30pm tomorrow. history.rcp.ac.uk/event/rcp-mu...

A group of visitors on a guided tour standing in front of a large painting at the RCP.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

This is the ‘Horoscope of Johannes’, born on 12 April 1538 - it's an extremely rare surviving example of ‘natal astrology’. It uses the date, time & location of a person’s birth to study the movements of the stars & planets at the time & predict their future course in life. #EYAsurprise 1/3

A fold out circular chart written inn Latin that forms part of the 'Horoscope of Johannes'.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

🫀 Discover Juan Valverde’s beautifully illustrated Anatomia, published in the 16th century. After 400+ years of use, its damaged binding needed specialist conservation. Find out how this remarkable anatomical book was repaired & preserved: history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/preserv...

The spine of the book before conservation showing damage including sections that have completely fallen off.

The open pages of the book showing anatomical illustrations of the human body.

The conserved book showing its repaired spine.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

This rare early photo, taken sometime before 1883, shows the anatomy theatre at the RCPs Warwick Lane HQ built in the 1670s. 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/about/archit... It was collected by Dr Farre, a 19th C RCP member who compiled a scrapbook of items illustrating key RCP events. #EYAsurprise

Black and white photo showing a hexagonal structure with a domed roof sitting among the rooftops and chimneys of a building.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

What we are getting up to behind the scenes at this summer . . . ⭐ dusting with brushes & conservation vacuum 🧹 😍 creating bespoke cushions for our buttons 👀& getting objects mounted ready for the next exhibition! #MuseumLife #histmed

Our collections officer wearing headtorch and carefully dusting a piece of gold braid wit ha brush into the mouth of a conservation vacuum.

A volunteer dusts a silver basket with a soft brush.

A donut shaped piece of black foam affixed to the back of a brass button.

A document sitting in a v-shaped stand with little silver magnets holding it to a backing board.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

To celebrate #WorldHoneyBeeDay we thought we’d share a couple medicinal recipes featuring honey in the recipe books of the RCP archive. Kicking off with a classic from Lady Sedley’s 1686 book – ‘To make hayre grow’. . . with helpful accompanying illustration of expected growth 😆. #histmed 1/3

Page from a recipe book with recipe reading:

To make Hayre grow

Take an Egg rost it the embers till it be hard
then take the yolk, and halfe so much fresh butter,
and as much Pepper as will lye on a kniwfes point, add
as much hony as will make it into an ointment
and soo anonyt the head with it -

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Happy #InternationalWolfDay! Celebrating the importance of Canis lupus. The naturalist’s library (1839) in our Heritage Library illustrates not one, but five different varieties – common, black, dusky, Mexican and North American prairie – most of which look remarkably docile. #histmed

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The Seventy Tales of the Parrot is one of our few non-medical manuscripts. The story tells of a merchant who leaves an enchanted parrot with his wife to tell her stories ending in cliffhangers every night to prevent her being unfaithful. #EYAsurprise @exploreyourarchive.bsky.social 1/2

Pages from the manuscript showing Persian script and illustrations of a woman and parrot

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

We hope many of you are getting to enjoy this evening’s #solareclipse from your part of the world 😎. We found these two images of past eclipses in our collections - a print of the 1905 eclipse & an illustration of the eclipse way back in 1556! @rcphysicians.bsky.social #histmed

Print of a watercolour drawing by Dawtry Drewitt made off the East Coast of Spain during the total eclipse Aug 30 1905.

Illustration of the solar eclipse in 1556 showing the positions of the moon as it passes between the earth and the sun.

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Katie Birkwood @girlinthe.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

'Elephant' is also a size descriptor used for large books. The Absolute Units of the library world, if you will. Here's the heaviest at @rcpmuseum.bsky.social, weighing in at 15.6 kg. #RareBooks #GLAMS #WorldElephantDay 📚

A person standing between library stacks holding a large and heavy book up so as to cover their face. The book is the 1906 facsimile of the Codex Aniciae Julianae Dioscorides.

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Katie Birkwood @girlinthe.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Double elephant 🐘🐘 = not actually quite the size of two elephants, alas (who has the wall space for that?), but rather 678 × 1016 mm (or 26.69 × 40 inches in old money). #RareBooks #GLAMS #WorldElephantDay 📚

Illustration of the relative sizes of double elephant and A4 paper. Double elephant is roughly three times as wide and tall.

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Katie Birkwood @girlinthe.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I know we're all agog for the eclipse, but today's also #WorldElephantDay, and I've just happened across this advertisement for a pair of wall charts of a steam engine printed 'full sheet DOUBLE ELEPHANT drawing paper'. #RareBooks #GLAMS 📚

Just published on full sheet double Elephant Drawin Paper, splendidly coloured, mounted on Cloth with Brass Rollers, and varnished, price £1 10s the pair, with a Pamphlet of Descriptions, STEAM ENGINE ... from drawings by John Milne.

Advert at the end f @rcpmuseum.bsky.social copy of The Naturalist's Library, Mammalia, vol 9, 1839.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

How did surgeons learn before videos & 3D models? In 1724, Lorenz Heister’s book Chirurgie used clear explanations & beautiful copperplate engravings to teach anatomy, instruments & operating methods. Discover its story & how you can support its conservation: history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/chirurg...

The cream coloured spine of a book. The title 'Heister's Chirurgie' is at the top. There is clear damage to the spine with pieces missing.

A pull-out paper diagram showing surgical tools. The paper has damaged edges and is misfolded.

The bottom of an open book showing pieces of crinkled damaged pages sticking out.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Galleries are looking a bit ghostly & empty round here! 👻🫣 Exhibition 'A body of knowledge' is coming down & art is getting covered as we get ready for the carpet to be replaced. You can still explore our beautiful books from the exhibition at history.rcp.ac.uk/exhibitions/... #BodyOfKnowlege

A view showing two galleries in the centre of the RCP building empty of exhibition cases. Some of the paintings on the wall have been covered with white material.

The exhibition gallery empty of display cases but still showing graphics on the walls. Some of the paintings on the wall have been covered with white material.

A close up of a large painting covered in white material taped to the wall.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

This Wednesday there is a great opportunity for those who cannot visit us in person to hop on a virtual tour of our beautiful building and explore 500years of history. Its starts at 1.30pm. Book free now 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/virtua...

Central staircase of the RCP in the centre of a white marble floored hall.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

📣New exhibition alert!! 👀 We are excited to announce new exhibition 'Patient voices: power, truth, understanding' will be opening on 14 September 2026 at the RCP - exploring the lived experience of healthcare. 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/exhibitions/... @rcphysicians.bsky.social #PatientVoices

A exhibition graphic with the title and dates of exhibition. Included is a black and white photo of a smiling woman sitting in a hospital bed.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined historian & artist Theeba Krishnamoorthy @rcphysicians.bsky.social Museum for last night’s delightful creative textile workshop celebrating South Asian women doctors & healing herbs 😍. #SAHM2026 #SouthAsianHeritageMonth

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

As part of our collecting campaign for materials relating to HIV/AIDS, in 2025 we interviewed Dame Anne Johnson and Lord Norman Fowler about their time working in healthcare during the early days of HIV and AIDS care. 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/dealing... #histmed #ZeroHIVStigmaDay

A collection of leaflets and flyers about HIV/AIDS

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

📣We will be closed to drop-in visits Mon 3 Aug-Wed 2 Sept while we undertake conservation & maintenance work.📣 You can still: ⭐go on a guided taster tour in person, Wed 5 Aug @1.30pm ⭐join a virtual tour, Wed 5 Aug @1.30pm ⭐join a virtual lunchtime talk, Tues 25 Aug @12pm 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/events

An image of a white building with 3 floors, the top floor is lined with slit windows and a white box shaped room jutting out of the side over the green garden. Overlaid are the words:
Summer works -
We will be CLOSED to drop in
visits from Monday 3 August
REOPENING
Wednesday 2 September

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

We are delighted to offer a couple more tickets for our popular upcoming workshop 'South Asian women doctors and healing herbs' with historian & artist Theeba Krishnamoorthy 😍. Book now before they go! sahm_women_doctors_healing_herbs.eventbrite.co.uk @rcphysicians.bsky.social #SAHM2026

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

📣Last chance to buy 📣 We have a couple of tickets left for tomorrow night's Teas from the Garden workshop - a fabulous evening of tea tasting, blending & learning about herbs in our gorgeous garden 😍. Book now history.rcp.ac.uk/event/teas-g... @rcphysicians.bsky.social #garden #summerevent

history.rcp.ac.uk

Teas from the Garden: seasonal workshop | RCP Museum

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Dr Rukhmabai Raut, became the second Indian woman to practice Western Medicine and a campaigner for women's rights. Discover her story with guest blogger Theeba Krishnamoorthy history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/dr-rukh... #SAHM2026 @rcphysicians.bsky.social

Sepia toned oval photograph portrait of a woman, looking slightly to the left. What is visible of her clothing appears to be a pale blouse under pleated fabric over her right shoulder.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

There are a few tickets left to our Teas from the Garden workshop next Wednesday 22 July with the wonderful @rcphysicians.bsky.social Garden team. Tasting herbal teas, mixing beautiful blends and an evening in a gorgeous garden - have you booked yet? 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/teas-g...

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Pride is for life, not just for June. We're delighted to see the progress on the @gladduk.bsky.social and @auntnellproduction.bsky.social project preserving the stories of LGBTQ+ doctors and dentists and the organisation that represents them. Read all about it here: gladd.co.uk/heritage-pro... 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🩺🦷

gladd.co.uk

GLADD

Find out about our Heritage Project

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

It’s Elizabethan mystic #JohnDee’s 499th birthday today. Find out more about his extraordinary life and library in ‘A Most Magickal Encounter’, airing on #BBCRadio4 on Sunday. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m.... 🔮📻

Engraved portrait of a man with a white pointed beard, wearing a skull cap, a 16th century ruff, and an academic gown. John Dee, engraved by R Cooper, c1800

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Cambridge UL Special Collections @theulspeccoll.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Two more weeks to see some of our lovely Historical Printing Room collections in the @rcpmuseum.bsky.social exhibition!

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Meet Karl Simmons, @rcphysicians.bsky.social Gardens new Artist in Residence 🌿 Karl has been volunteering with the #garden since 2018, & producing drawings for the garden's publications since 2021. He has now been appointed RCP Garden Artist in Residence. 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/meet-ka...

A man dressed in black with short grey hair and glasses stands in front of a large leafy green plant, smiling at the camera.

Open pages of Karl's sketchbook showing handwritten notes and colourful sketches of plants.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Dr Kadambini Ganguli, was a woman of many firsts. One of the first 2 women graduates of India & the British Empire & the first Indian woman to graduate & practice Western Medicine in India. Discover more in this blog by Dr Theeba Krishnamoorthy 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/dr-kada... #SAHM2026

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

This #worldchocolateday watch our video on how to create your own chocolate discs to a 17th century recipe! Last year Dr Amanda Herbert helped us recreate the flavours of a chocolate recipe in Mary Goodson's handwritten recipe book from 1687 - now you can too! #histmed #RCPhealingrecipes

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

We know who owned them. We don't know who they were. These extraordinary 17th C anatomical tables consist of six panels, showing the preserved veins, arteries & nerves of real human bodies, & two animal organs dissected at the University of Padua with extraordinary skill & care. 1/4

A view of the anatomical tables in frames hanging on the wall of the RCP.

A close up of the texture showing the raised surface of the dissected remains.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

As the exhibition A Body of Knowledge nears the end of its run (closing day is 23 July 2026!), Rare Books Librarian and curator of the exhibition, Katie Birkwood, reflects on the books that didn't quite make it into the exhibition in our latest blog. history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/ones-go...

Illustration of St George on horseback and the dragon as constructions made to set off fireworks. In John Babington, Pyrotechnia or, A discourse of artificiall fire-works, published 1635

Illustrations of a range of ways to fold a napkin from simple fans to a 3-masted boat!
Harsdörffer, Trincir-Buch [carvery book], published 1657, p. 27 Photography by Mike Fear.

Map of the world as seen from the north pole in a beautiful book of maps by Ptolemy, edited and expanded by Marcus Beneventanus, Giovanni Cotta and Joannes Ruysch, Geographiae, published 1508

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Tickets are booking fast for upcoming creative textile workshop, 29 July, 'South Asian women doctors and healing herbs' with historian & artist Theeba Krishnamoorthy. Book your ticket 👉 sahm_women_doctors_healing_herbs.eventbrite.co.uk @rcphysicians.bsky.social #SAHM2026 #SouthAsianHeritageMonth

A graphic advertising the workshop with the dates (shared in post) and images of 4 South Asian Women doctors.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Book your free place now for our last Museum Late for exhibition 'A body of knowledge': 🌟a mini-display of some of the books 🌟 expert tour by curator & rare books librarian Katie Birkwood 🌟 fun with book inspired crafts! 👉 museum_late_july.eventbrite.co.uk @rcphysicians.bsky.social #histmed

Visitors explore rare books in the Dorchester

Visitors explore books in the exhibition

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

We're in a spin about this upcoming event. BOOK NOW: history.rcp.ac.uk/event/body-k...

history.rcp.ac.uk

A body of knowledge: summer lectures | RCP Museum

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Physicians' Gallery @physiciansgallery.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

We're hiring! We're looking for a Project Library Cataloguer to catalogue our modern (post-1900) library collections Find out more 👉 www.rcpe.ac.uk/college/proj...

Text reads:
Project Library Cataloguer
£34,384 pro rata

6 month contract at 35 hours per week

Option for flexible/part time working

Deadline: 2 July 2026

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Reposted by RCP museum

Katie Birkwood @girlinthe.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Better still, we have the inimitable @drkarrschmidt.bsky.social giving the background on pre-modern interactive print: flaps to lift, dials to turn, all sorts of marvellous things. history.rcp.ac.uk/event/body-k...

history.rcp.ac.uk

A body of knowledge: summer lectures | RCP Museum

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Katie Birkwood @girlinthe.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Five layers: the earth, the heavens, the clock... Come to the @rcpmuseum.bsky.social lecture evening on 23 June to find out how this 16th century device works, and take home your own working replica! history.rcp.ac.uk/event/body-k...

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

A huge thank you to the volunteers who support our Archive, Heritage Library and Museum service. This past year, they have given hundreds of hours to help preserve and share the RCP's rich heritage. Discover their latest work: bit.ly/43MiJoX Thank you volunteers for your hard work! #VolunteersWeek

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Join our special Late opening for the London Festival of Architecture on Thursday 4 June. There will be: ⭐ a special archives display ⭐ self-guided trail ⭐guided tour of the Grade I listed architecture Book free: rcpmuseumlate_lfa.eventbrite.co.uk @rcphysicians.bsky.social #LFA2026

Photograph of the side view of the building showing striking brutalist architecture.

Visitors enjoying the staircases inside the RCP.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Back in December 2025 we shared a tour of exhibition 'A body of knowledge' & host two talks on recent research into how we investigate the history of libraries with doctoral researcher Samantha Brown & Dr Alice Wickenden. Watch back history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/investi... @rcphysicians.bsky.social

Talk cover slide titled: Moving Libraries - from the personal to the institutional

Talk cover slide: Islamic Knowledge in an Elizabethan Physician's Library - Lancelot Browne & his Arabic books

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who braved the heat & joined our half-term workshop yesterday to create their very own herbals. It was a lovely to share our rare books, explore the @rcphysicians.bsky.social garden & get creative. There were some really beautiful books made & interesting recipes created!

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Read our latest blog 'From foxed to fabulous: works on paper conserved through Adopt a Treasure scheme' history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/foxed-f... Explore a batch of paper items in the Adopt a Treasure & delve into the conservation process that generous donations have funded. @rcphysicians.bsky.social

Discovery of Pulmonary Circulation paper before conservation with torn and ragged edges and after conservation properly supported.

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Physicians' Gallery @physiciansgallery.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

We're launching a new history of medicine award! Deadline: 14 August 2026 Award amount: £1,000 Find out more 👉 www.rcpe.ac.uk/education/ro...

Promotional image. Text reads:
2026 History of Medicine Award
Apply now

Promotional image. Text reads:

Applicants will submit an abstract research paper of no more than 1,000 words.

Deadline: 14 August 2026
Award amount: £1,000

Award finalists will present their papers at a public event on 15 October 2026.

The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh History of Medicine Award aims to support and develop the study of the history of medicine, and to promote the use of the library, archive and heritage object collections held by the College.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Augustus D’Este’s #handwriting in his 1846-48 diary may show a loss of dexterity due to his #MultipleSclerosis. He continued to get the most possible out of life - the daily walking times he was particularly pleased with are shown in red ink. #EYAhandwriting history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/my-case...

Pages from a personal account book repurposed as a diary. Handwritten entries in black and red ink, dated December 1847 to January 1848.

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