Lindsey Fitzharris. In 1664, Robert Hooke—a pioneering member of the Royal Society and lead scientific thinker of his day—decided to investigate the mechanisms involved in breathing. In his laboratory, he strapped a stray dog to his table. Then, taking his scalpel, he proceeded to slice the terrified animal’s chest off so he could peer inside … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Wellcome Collection
All Eyes on Deck: The Unseen Sailors’ Tattoo
The sailors’ tattoo has long captured the wider cultural imagination, but certain motifs go back much further than the 19th century. Continue reading
Torturing the Dead: The Prevention of Premature Burial and Dissection
During the 18th and 19th centuries, fears over premature burial were ubiquitous. Continue reading
