Paul Strathern

The Royal College of Physicians celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2018, and to observe this landmark it published a series of books, focusing on fifty themed elements that have contributed to making the RCP what it is today.

This third book in the series is a lively tour of some of the colourful characters and dubious cures that have littered the RCP's 500-year history, and highlights the role the RCP has played in regulating the medical profession.

Other books in the series

Anatomy of a building - Rowan Moore

A garden of medicinal plants - Henry Oakeley, Jane Knowles, Michael de Swiet and Anthony Dayan

Physicians and war - Humphrey Hodgson and Simon Shorvan

Curiosities from the College museum - Richard Thompson

Grave and learned men: the physicians 1518-1660 - Louella Vaughan

Ever persons capable and able: the physicians 1660-2018 - Louella Vaughan

Physicians and their images - Ludmilla Jordanova

Simples and rarities suitable and honourable to the College - Alastair Compston

Physicians and global health - Krishna Chinthapalli