Season 2 · Episode 32
The Apothecary Diaries · S2E32
Aired on February 28, 2025
Science entries in this episode
The Caesarean Section
Before antisepsis and anesthesia, caesarean section almost always killed the mother. We explain why, and what changed everything in the 19th century.
Decomposition and Mummification
In The Apothecary Diaries, a body remains intact for a year. We explain autolysis, bacterial putrefaction, and what stops it: cold, dryness, preserving salts.
Mercury
In The Apothecary Diaries, quicksilver goes into a court poison. We explain mercury, its toxicity, and the immortality elixirs that killed emperors.