Poxed: Germs in History Exhibition

Poxed: Germs in History Exhibition. 

A new exhibition from the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh explores the history of the most feared infectious diseases and their impact on the lives of ordinary people. Using books, illustrations and objects from the College’s collections, the Poxed exhibition explores the changing history of humanity’s relationship with microorganisms, from fear and superstitions to scientific discoveries. The first theme of the exhibition explores the ways people coped with the constant threat of epidemics before modern medicine. The second theme looks at early medical theories of infection and the first glimpses into the secret word of germs. The third theme explores the fear and stigma that followed sick and infected people through history. Finally, it looks at the history of different therapies against infectious diseases and the development of vaccines

Some interesting books and objects: 

• Bacterial baptism, artwork made from an antique christening gown, died with stains used in the study of the gut microbiome. By Anna Dimitriu, Artist in Residence at NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, in collaboration with Professor Jane Freeman, University of Leeds/NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre.
• A snapshot of Edinburgh life and death across social classes - The Cholera Reports (1848–1849)- daily reports of cholera cases, deaths and recoveries in Edinburgh.
• The surprising history of abracadabra  - a magic incantation that started life as a protection against disease in Liber Medicinalis by a Roman physician Sammonicus.
• The first scientific bestseller with illustrations of images seen through the microscope, Micrographia, 1665.
• The first vaccination against smallpox by Edward Jenner is described and illustrated in the first edition of his book An inquiry into the causes and effects of the variolae vaccinae, 1798.

Estela Dukan, curator of Poxed: Germs in History, said:

Humanity was powerless in the face of infectious diseases for the most part of its history. Most of us living today were born in the era of antibiotics, sanitation and modern therapies and we often forget how recent these medical advances are. Until the germ theory of disease was accepted in the 1870s, people were still routinely dying from diseases which are now easily treatable, from sepsis after surgery or even from simple cuts that got infected. 

Our exhibition aims to explore how people coped with the constant threat of deadly diseases, their fear and their resilience. Most of all, we want to show how human ingenuity finally solved the mystery of what causes infections. Every new insight by early physicians and scientists added to the collective knowledge which led to the final understanding of microorganisms and their role in both health and disease.

 

Notes to editors:

The exhibition launch is on Thursday, 29 Oct 2026, 6pm–8pm, 11 Queen Street, Edinburgh. The launch will feature short talks exploring rats and plague, as well as a wine reception and access to the exhibition. Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exhibition-launch-of-poxed-germs-in-history-tickets-1992649993772 

The exhibition will run from 30 October 2026 to 9 July 2027

The exhibition is free.

Open Monday to Friday, 10am–4.30pm.

A full public programme of events will accompany the exhibition, more information can be found on the exhibition webpages 

The web address is www.rcpe.ac.uk/poxed 

More information on content:

• As well as objects, illustrations and manuscripts, the exhibition features a touchscreen illustrating the history of different causes of infections: viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites
• The concept of spontaneous generation, the idea that living things can come about spontaneously from non-living things in Experimenta Circa Generationem Insectorum, 1671
• The theme of human resilience in the face of deadly diseases is illustrated by Il Decameron, written in the aftermath of the 1340s Black Death epidemic
• Illustration of the1700s ‘machines that might be useful in an infectious season’ in Letters on the plague, 1745
• The objects related to the Black Death complement the items in our permanent Gallery display
• 1800s and early 1900s illustrations of patients suffering from cholera, leprosy and smallpox.