Between the 1850’s and the 1880s, the crinoline was a popular item of fashion for women of every social class. Consisting of a series of wide hoops, and often accompanied by a horsehair petticoat, the crinoline was worn underneath the skirts to give a wide silhouette. However, the article was not without its risks. Thousands […]
Author Archives: Danielle Dray
Death by Rail – The London Necropolis
In 1851 all of the graveyards in London closed their doors for further burial due to overcrowding. As a result, several companies established themselves as alternatives, providing burial services located outside of London in the surrounding suburbs. The largest corporation offering burial services was the London Necropolis Company. Established in 1852 by an Act of […]
Animals in Autopsies
Autopsies, or post-mortems as they are known in Scotland, are generally carried out to establish the cause of death if someone has died in unexplained or suspicious circumstances. Sometimes it is fairly obvious, owing to evidence of injuries or signs of disease. However, sometimes a little extra help is needed, and animals can provide clues […]
Laudanum: Opiates for All
Derived from the seeds of the poppy plant, opiates can take many forms. They are still used today for pain relief, and can be found in forms like morphine and codeine. In high concentrations, the substance becomes drugs like heroin, and, most obviously, opium. Though the widespread opium consumption during the nineteenth century has often […]
Poisonous Imposters: Toxic Plants and Deadly Mistakes
Most of us are warned as children not to eat things we don’t recognise. But what if you think you do recognise it? Sometimes things are not as they appear, and many plants which are either edible or otherwise harmless bear an uncanny resemblance to much more deadly specimens. Daffodils Although daffodils may not strike […]
Epizootics – A Short History of Cattle Plagues
It has been almost 30 years since Mad Cow Disease caused a national and international panic. Mad Cow Disease (Bovine spongiform encephalopathy) is believed to have entered the bovine food chain when bones from infected sheep were ground into animal feed as a nutritional supplement. Though the resulting neurological disease caused by consuming infected beef […]
Murderous Elephants: The Bizarre Phenomenon of Circus Executions
Public executions were a common part of life throughout medieval Europe, and following the colonisation of the Americas during the 1500s, the practice soon made its way across the Atlantic. However, by the late 1800s most states had passed laws banning public execution for fear of the social repercussions they might have on an otherwise […]
Dr Pirie: The X-Ray Martyr
X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation, which are commonly used as a diagnostic tool in clinical medicine. They were first discovered in 1895 by German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen, and it was immediately recognised that X-rays could be used in medicine. As well as providing clear images of broken bones, X-rays can also be used […]
Lock Up Your Dead: The Scottish Body Snatchers
During the 18th and 19th centuries, there was a huge demand for cadavers for medical schools. Scotland in particular became an epicentre for medical learning and research. However, there was a limited supply of cadavers available, as people were generally revolted by the idea of dissection. Additionally, the Murder Act of 1751 stipulated that those […]
Unwelcome Guests: Our Friend the Tapeworm
Tapeworms are a parasitic organism which lives in the digestive system of their host. Humans have been aware of them since at least 384 b.c, where it was described by Greek philosopher Aristotle. There are several different species, and infection usually happens when a person eats undercooked beef, pork or fish. Fortunately, modern medicines can […]