Physicians' Gallery

Physicians' Gallery

This fortnightly podcast from the Physicians' Gallery at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) explores the history of medicine.

In the original 'Casenotes' series we heard from historians specialising in a huge range of subjects - including the history of poisons, syphilis, wartime medicine and mental illness.

Our series, 'Casenotes: Past and Present', devotes each episode to a different medical specialty. By exploring the history and interviewing currently practicing clinicians we will uncover the many changes, and the similarities, between medicine in the past and medical practices now.

Our series, 'Casenotes: Head to Toe', explores the history of medicine through different parts of the human body.

In our fourth series, 'Casenotes: Historian Series', we hear from academics and writers about a variety of topics in the history of medicine, including burns, animals and kings.

The current series, 'A-Z' explores topics starting with one letter per episode - from antidotes to zinc.

Recent Episodes

Ep.9 - Rose
Feb. 26, 2026

Ep.9 - Rose

This week, we’re talking about the rose. One of the less unpleasant-tasting medicines, rose was a common treatment for indigestion and constipation.
Ep.8 - Bleeding bowl
Feb. 12, 2026

Ep.8 - Bleeding bowl

This week, we’re talking about bleeding bowls. We’re covering everything from heroic near-death levels of bloodletting, to a Scots porringer of blood - a handy tool that doubled as a measuring jug, gravy boat and ladle!
Ep.7 - Air Loom
Jan. 29, 2026

Ep.7 - Air Loom

This week, we’re talking about the Air Loom. This fascinating image is the first example of asylum patient art ever reproduced in print and we uncover the story of its creator - James Tilly Matthews.
Ep.6 - Thistle
Jan. 15, 2026

Ep.6 - Thistle

This week, we’re talking about the thistle. From a medical marvel to a symbol of Scotland, we explore the rich history of this spiky plant.
Ep.5- Artificial Wine
Jan. 1, 2026

Ep.5- Artificial Wine

This week, we’re talking about an object from our temporary exhibition ‘Hooked’ – ‘A treatise of new artificial wines’. The author of this book was a distiller, alchemist and chemist.
Ep.4 - Jamaica Ginger
Dec. 18, 2025

Ep.4 - Jamaica Ginger

This week, we’re talking about an object from our temporary exhibition ‘Hooked’ – Jamaica Ginger, a Prohibition-era American medicine which was highly alcoholic and contained a range of noxious ingredients.

About the Host

Dr Daisy Cunynghame Profile Photo
Dr Daisy Cunynghame

Host

Daisy Cunynghame completed an MA in Modern History at the University of St Andrews and a Higher Diploma in Archival Studies at University College Dublin. She is the Heritage Manager & Librarian for the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE). She was awarded her PhD by the University of Edinburgh in 2020. The focus of this work was ‘The Roles of the Edinburgh, Kelso, and Newcastle Dispensaries in Charitable Relief, 1776-1810’. Her research investigates public health initiatives in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries in Scotland and the north of England, with a particular focus on the patient experience within the dispensary system.

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