Gairloch Museum, Gairloch, Ross-shire, IV21 2BH
16 September 2022 - 31 October 2022
Monday - Saturday
10am - 5pm
Free entry
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland hold a unique place in medical history. Expansive geography, famine and economic instability combined to create precarious living circumstances for both physicians and patients.
This exhibition explores the changes which have taken place in Highlands medicine over 500 years. It uncovers the stories behind Jacobite medicines, local healers and famed Celtic physicians such as The Beatons.
Geographical isolation meant that many medical recipes needed to be adapted to include locally available ingredients, including seaweed and fish oil. The Highlands were also viewed as a potential source of income for charlatans and an influx of travelling quacks from the Lowlands streamed across the Highlands in the 1700s and 1800s.
Stuart Threipland medicine chest (mid 1700s)
See the medicine chest of Sir Stewart Threipland (personal physician to Bonnie Prince Charlie) which is believed to have been used at the battle of Culloden. Explore medicine in Victorian Gairloch through the voice of local surgeon Charles Robertson as he detailed the challenges he faced in a handwritten missive to the College which forms part of our Remote & Rural Remedies website which launched in 2021.
Contacts
For information on visiting Gairloch Museum please contact info@gairlochmuseum.org
This exhibition has been curated by the College, for more information about the exhibition contents or to arrange for this exhibition to visit your town please email us at library@rcpe.ac.uk