Physicians' Gallery Newsletter
Updates on upcoming events, exhibitions and online stories
Leech Jar
The podcast is available to download on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean and Soundcloud.
We’re exploring different objects on display in our Physicians’ Gallery.
In this episode, we’re unearthing the history of medicinal leeches. From rural swamps to 24 hour leech shops, the leech industry grew and grew across Europe. There were many risks to the use of leeches - from them slithering up your behind to giving you syphilis. One top tip was to not use weird smelling leeches, another was to always squeeze them to empty them out before use.
The Team:
Sarah E Hayward earned her PhD in Museums and Heritage Studies, with a focus on the history of learning disability, from Kingston University London in 2023. She now works in the Archive Service at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability (RHN) in Putney. Sarah has been a dedicated volunteer with the Physicians' Gallery since 2021. She has a passion for archival research and loves to explore creative ways to share the hidden stories she uncovers.
Charlotte Holmes received her PhD in History from the University of Edinburgh in 2022 and she has been volunteering with the Physicians' Gallery since 2019. Her main interest is in Scottish medical history but she has recently been researching the disabled experience in early modern Scotland.
Elizabeth Van Trampe received her MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway University of London in 2021 and began volunteering with the Physicians’ Gallery in 2026. She has a varied interest in history and has recently been researching Scandinavian folklore.
