Beyond The Knife

Welcome to Beyond the Knife -where history and medicine collide.In this episode, we’re joined by anatomist and human remains conservator Cat Irving as she explores the long and often bizarre history of gonorrhoea, from early diagnoses and eye-watering treatments to the strange phenomenon of “smurf syndrome.” Discover the medical misconceptions, curious cures, and social attitudes surrounding one of history’s most infamous diseases.This episode is hosted by Chanté St Clair Inglis Director of Heritage and Estates at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.Produced by Jordanna Kielty-O'Neill and Keshena Goldie for Surgeons Hall Museums, Library and Archives.Edited by John KieltyMusic Credit: Zap SplatFor more information about Surgeons Hall Museums and The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Library and Archives please see our websitesHome - Surgeons' Hall Museums, EdinburghHome | Library & Archive The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Welcome to Beyond the Knife - where history and medicine collide. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Aaron Allen as he explores the early incorporation of Incorporation of Barber Surgeons in Edinburgh. From royal charters to the rise of organised craft, discover how barber surgeons carved out their place in the city’s powerful guild system. It’s a story of skill, status, and the foundations of a profession that would shape the future of surgery.This episode is hosted by Chanté St Clair Inglis Director of Heritage and Estates at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.Produced by Jordanna Kielty-O'Neill and Keshena Goldie for Surgeons Hall Museums, Library and Archives.Edited by John KieltyMusic Credit: Zap SplatFor more information about Surgeons Hall Museums and The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Library and Archives please see our websitesHome - Surgeons' Hall Museums, EdinburghHome | Library & Archive The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Welcome to Beyond the Knife– where history and medicine collide.In this episode, we’re joined by author and Neuropsychologist Andy Ellis.Andy explores General Paralysis of the Insane, a devastating neurological condition that once baffled the medical world. Through the case of Sir Randolph Churchill, he examines not only its impact on the brain and behavior, but also the social conditions and attitudes that shaped how the disease was understood and treated.This episode is hosted by Chanté St Clair Inglis Director of Heritage and Estates at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.Produced by Jordanna Kielty-O'Neill and Keshena Goldie for Surgeons Hall Museums, Library and Archives.Edited by John KieltyMusic Credit: Zap Splat

Welcome to Beyond the Knife– where history and medicine collide. In this episode, we’re joined by Surgeons Hall Museum Curator Louise Wilkie. Louise explores the history of the Edinburgh Seven, examining how both supporters and opponents shaped the campaign that sought to secure women’s access to medical education at the University of Edinburgh. She discusses how this struggle not only challenged institutional resistance but also brought the wider issue of women’s right to university education firmly into the public spotlight.This episode is hosted by Chanté St Clair Inglis Director of Heritage and Estates at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Produced by Jordanna Kielty-O'Neill and Keshena Goldie for Surgeons Hall Museums, Library and Archives. Music Credit: Zap Splat

Welcome to Beyond the Knife– where history and medicine collide.In this episode, we’re joined by Anatomist and Human Remains Conservator Cat Irving.Cat explores the history of syphilis in Europe, examining the disease itself and the cultural reactions it provoked. From misguided cures to social shaming, this podcast reveals how fear and morality shaped the response to one of history’s most notorious illnesses.This episode is hosted by Chanté St Clair Inglis Director of Heritage and Estates at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.Produced by Jordanna Kielty-O'Neill and Keshena Goldie for Surgeons Hall Museums, Library and Archives.Music Credit: Zap SplatFor more information about Surgeons Hall Museums and The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Library and Archives please see our websitesHome - Surgeons' Hall Museums, EdinburghHome | Library & Archive The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Welcome to Beyond the Knife– where history and medicine collide.In this episode, we’re joined by Anatomist and Human Remains Conservator Cat Irving.Cat examines the notorious Burke and Hare case and the West Port murders, where poverty and the opportunity to profit from Edinburgh’s cadaver shortage led to a gruesome trade in bodies. Using this grim chapter of history, Cat explores how the scandal reshaped the teaching of anatomy and led to lasting changes in medical ethics and legislation.This episode is hosted by Chanté St Clair Inglis Director of Heritage and Estates at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.Produced by Jordanna Kielty-O'Neill and Keshena Goldie for Surgeons Hall Museums, Library and Archives.Music Credit: Zap SplatFor more information about Surgeons Hall Museums and The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Library and Archives please see our websitesHome - Surgeons' Hall Museums, EdinburghHome | Library & Archive The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Welcome to Beyond the Knife– where history and medicine collide.In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Robert Mann, a forensic anthropologist at the University of Hawai‘i’s John A. Burns School of Medicine. Dr. Mann specialises in the analysis of human skeletal remains, using anatomical and biological evidence to reconstruct aspects of an individual’s identity, life history, and, in some cases, the circumstances surrounding their death.He discusses a compelling case that originated at a homeless encampment in Hawai‘i-an example that illustrates the depth of information preserved within the human skeleton.This episode is hosted by Chanté St Clair Inglis Director of Heritage and Estates at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.Produced by Jordanna Kielty-O'Neill and Keshena Goldie for Surgeons Hall Museums, Library and Archives.Music Credit: Zap SplatFor more information about Surgeons Hall Museums and The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Library and Archives please see our websitesHome - Surgeons' Hall Museums, EdinburghHome | Library & Archive The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Welcome to Beyond the Knife– where history and medicine collide. In this episode we’re joined by Robin Fixter, Library and Archive assistant the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, to uncover the gripping true story of Robert Auchmutie, a 17th-century Barber Surgeon who was caught in a deadly scandal. Robin takes us through his research uncovering a compelling story where dueling, power, and politics come together at a moment when the justice system is about to change.This episode is hosted by Chanté St Clair Inglis Director of Heritage and Estates at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.Produced by Jordanna Kielty-O'Neill and Keshena Goldie for Surgeons Hall Museums, Library and Archives.Music Credit: Zap SplatFor more information about Surgeons Hall Museums and The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Library and Archives please see our websitesHome - Surgeons' Hall Museums, EdinburghHome | Library & Archive The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh