@rcpmuseum.bsky.social
The Royal College of Physicians museum, heritage library, archive & garden in Regent's Park | History, medicine, art & modernist architecture | Exhibitions & events
@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialOladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe (1933-2020), often referred to as ‘Prof’ or ‘Baba’ (father), was a distinguished professor of medicine at the University of Ibadan & a pioneer in the specialty of hypertension & nephrology in Nigeria & Africa.
Discover his story👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/remembe...
@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialVisit the 'Patient voices' exhibition at the RCP Museum until 23 July 2027. Check out our website for opening details & exhibition themed events.
Next Thurs 8 October you can join our Museum Late to explore after hours with free talks!
@rcpmuseum.bsky.social😍Exhibition 'Patient voices' is open to visit! We celebrated with a private view featuring speeches from the patient advocacy group who helped develop the exhibition, senior curator Liz Douglas & musical performances of baroque pieces evoking the experience of a patient. 🎼 Photos Saul Perryman
@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialNew performances of these pieces of music were performed, recorded and put on display for the 'Patient voices' exhibition which is now open to visit at the RCP Museum by Regent's Park history.rcp.ac.uk/exhibitions/...
@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialMarin Marais was a virtuoso viola de gamba player & composer born in 1656. During his career he composed two pieces of music that evoke the feelings of being a patient.
Visit recent blog by Harveian Librarian, Anita Simonds, to find out more
👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/marin-m...
@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialLatest 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...
@rcpmuseum.bsky.social3. 'For Ye Biting of a mad dog'. This recipe from Dr Richardson, via Madan Pym from Curry Malet in Somerset, uses herbs and plants gathered in the summer such as garlic, primrose and vervain. It also uses the claw of a male crab, ground up. In winter, beer is added.
@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialAle mixed with sage, garlic and treacle to create a ‘water’ drunk for 3 days post-bite and again for 3 days after the next full moon. Perhaps a remedy against the person becoming ‘mad’ also, as the full moon was considered to have an adverse impact on people with mental health issues.
@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialThis recipe book compiled 1644-1691 includes 3 cures 'Against Biting of a Mad dog'. Could this be rabies in the archive? #worldrabiesday
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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.
@rcpmuseum.bsky.social1724-1858: 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]"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:uq22na5icapxhazlawihjk54/bafkreid2vnhreftzfr5tflzv52xqnlbkihvl4apaujdhjvenb3xo7tykg4@jpeg)
@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialWe 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
@rcpmuseum.bsky.social📣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...
@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialWe have also begun installing new exhibition ‘Patient voices: power, truth, understanding’ which will be opening on 14 September! 😍
Explore the lived experience of healthcare 👉
history.rcp.ac.uk/exhibitions/...
#PatientVoices #histmed @rcphysicians.bsky.social
@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialWe 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.
@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialThanks for checking, to clarify this is a rare surviving example of ‘natal astrology’ from the 16th century.
@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialUnfortunately for the incurably curious, we know neither the identity of the astrologer nor the subject. So there is no way of knowing how accurate the ‘Horoscope of Johannes’ analysis & prediction were!
Find out more
history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/written...
@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialDuring the medieval period astrologers were respected scholars & most people believed that the world around them including a person's health could be predicted & influenced using astrology. This 'zodiac man' explained how the astrological formations (star signs) ruled each part of the body. 2/3
@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialThis 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
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@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialTo 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
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@rcpmuseum.bsky.socialBack to 2026 & the team here have had a go a taking our own images of a #solareclipse using pinhole cameras, a binocular & screen set up, & even the local shrubbery!
How did everyone else's evening go?
#eclipse2026 @rcphysicians.bsky.social
