Ep.3 - Head To Toe - Nose
Join us as we explore the history of medicine, from head to toe! This time: the nose.
Smell might be one of the main senses but it's had a rocky history – going in and out of fashion, and written off as one of the less refined or civilised of the senses. Seen as tied to class and somehow less evolved, we 21st century smellers are missing out by comparison to the smell buffets available to Ancient Romans.
In this episode we talk about the meaning of nose shapes, the expense of washing your body and the euphemistic nature of the nose.
And we finish up by looking at some nose-related treatments, including cobwebs, butter and nettles!
Credits
Researcher and presenter: Laura Burgess has been a volunteer with RCPE Heritage since 2021 after completing her MA in History from UNC Charlotte.
Editor and producer: Sarah E Hayward completed her PhD in Museums and Heritage Studies at Kingston University London in 2023. She has been a volunteer with RCPE Heritage since 2021. She has a passion for archival research and she loves to explore creative ways to assemble and share the hidden stories she uncovers.
Researcher and presenter: Olivia Howarth is a volunteer with RCPE Heritage, a recently qualified archivist, heritage enthusiast and self-proclaimed lifetime nerd with an interest in medical history.
Guest historian clip: Dr Noelle Gallagher is Senior Lecturer in Eighteenth-Century Literature and Culture at the University of Manchester.
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