We are pleased to announce that the BSHM website now includes History of Medicine book reviews – click here

Manhandling the Brain: Psychiatric Neurosurgery in the Mid-20^th Century is an art/historical installation made by Ken Barrett, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.

It explores the human cost of leucotomy, a surgical intervention used to modify unwanted behaviours and emotion. It was especially welcomed in large overcrowded state mental hospitals, institutions where care standards were often poor. Just how poor was revealed in a shocking Life magazine article published in 1946.

Manhandling the Brain is currently on display in the exhibition case at the entrance to the RSM Library until the end of December 2016.

Robert Greenwood
Heritage Officer
The Royal Society of Medicine Library
1 Wimpole Street
LONDON  W1G 0AE

The  programme for the 2016-17 Gresham College Lectures is now available at:   http://www.gresham.ac.uk/

The lectures are of a high standard and are free. Several relate to the history of medicine.

Past lectures are available as video downloads. These include :

“Germs , Genes and Genesis: the History of Infectious Disease”  by Prof Steve Jones and

“War Health and Medicine” by Prof Mark Harrison

I photographed this plant at Lopham Fen in Suffolk this week.

How does it relate to the history of medicine?

A clue is in the botanical name.

Chris Derrett

Professor Adrian Thomas has recorded a webinar on the life and contribution of Silvanus Thompson,  first president of the Roentgen Society.

It can be viewed on the BIR website. Click here