A Medical Humanities Moment: A Quick Look at the Myths, Legends and Symbols of Modern Medicine.

Even if you’ve never had a shave and a haircut at a grooming salon for men - in other words, a barber shop - you’ve certainly seen the commonplace symbol that appears outside many of these establishments: the barber’s pole. Typically around half a meter, or a foot and a half in length, these cylindrical signs feature a helix of red, white and sometimes blue bands that twist up the column, and in some case, actually rotate. There’s usually a round globe or light at the top, and sometimes a thick base at the bottom. It’s the universal barbershop symbol, telling passersby at a glance that this is the place for gents to get that new hairdo.

So what does it have to do with medicine? Turns out, much more than you might think.

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In the summer of 1890, Vincent Van Gogh committed suicide by shooting himself in the abdomen.

Or did he?

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Elizabeth Tudor, Queen Elizabeth I of England, is perhaps one of the most famous monarchs in all of history. She reigned for forty-five years during a time of tumultuous religious and political upheaval, survived several assassination attempts, and famously addressed her army with the proclamation that she had the ‘heart and stomach of a king’.

But in spite of her many accomplishments, even in spite of famously — or infamously — ordering the death of her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, Elizabeth I is primarily known for one particular thing: her virginity.

Please note - this episode features mild references to sexuality.

Error - I misspoke in this recording and referred to Lettice Knollys' husband as Robert Devereaux, when it should have been Robert Dudley.

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Today on A Medical Humanities Moment, we take a brief look at the Oracle at Delphi.

What gave the legendary Oracle her clairvoyant powers? Was it the whispers of Apollo...? Or was there a more scientific cause for her divine madness?

Take a break with A Medical Humanities Moment and find out.

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P.S. As mentioned in the podcast, if you'd like to visit the ruins of Delphi yourself, it's now a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Franz Liszt was one of the world's first superstars, driving his mostly female audiences to the point of mass hysteria....

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Ever since Lord Carnarvon died shortly after entering King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1923, rumours of a deadly curse have abounded. But what's the real story?

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*Opening scene taken from the movie The Mummy (1932), now in the public domain.

How did Agatha Christie know so much about poisons?

Today on The Medical Humanities Podcast, you'll find out!

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What is this oath, exactly? Is it just a myth? Is it something doctors used to do but no longer swear to? Was it really something Hippocrates came up with? And is it legally binding?

Today on A Medical Humanities Moment, we’ll find out a bit more about the Hippocratic Oath.

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