Spotlight: Black Death

Spotlight: Black Death runs at the Physicians' Gallery on Wednesday 27 January, from 12:30pm to 12:50pm. It's a short, twenty-minute talk that takes you back to the 1300s to trace the history of plague and the Black Death, using the objects on display to tell the story. You'll hear about the theories of 'bad air' that people believed in, the bizarre folk remedies they tried, and the beaked plague doctors that became the face of the era, before the talk looks at the disease's long shadow over public health today.

The session is part of the Spotlight Lunchtime Talks, a monthly series of curator-led gallery talks held on the last Wednesday of every month at 12.30pm. Each one focuses on a different medical topic, with the curator walking you through the history using the items in the gallery. It's a good way to see the collection in a bit more detail than you'd get just wandering through on your own.

The Physicians' Gallery is run by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and they put on public events for all ages throughout the year, including exhibition launches, school events and workshops. Many of those are recorded and made available online or through the college's podcast, so if you can't make it in person, there's a good chance you can catch up later.

Entry is free, but you do need to book your place in advance. The gallery is at No.11 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JQ, and the talk runs from 12:30pm to 12:50pm on Wednesday 27 January.