Techniques · The Apothecary Diaries

Every process and technical gesture described in the work.

medicinehistory-of-science

Autopsy and Forensic Medicine

In The Apothecary Diaries, a body is examined. We explain autopsy, post-mortem signs, and the birth of forensic medicine.

biologyhistory-of-science

Beekeeping

In The Apothecary Diaries, Lady Fonmin's luxurious honeys come from a beekeeping family. Colony structure, castes, varietal honeys, and the history of beekeeping.

medicinehistory-of-science

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.

medicine

Clinical Signs

In The Apothecary Diaries, Maomao reads Lihaku's body without him saying a word. We explain clinical semiology and the art of diagnosis by observation.

chemistryhistory-of-science

Revealing Fingerprints

Revealing fingerprints with flour. We explain the chemistry of latent prints and the history of dactyloscopy, born in ancient China.

pharmacologychemistry

Galenic Formulations

In The Apothecary Diaries, an ointment gets prepared. We explain galenics: how a medicine's form determines how an active ingredient is absorbed.

medicinetoxicology

Induced Vomiting

Making someone vomit to clear a poison: an old intuition that modern medicine has largely abandoned. Risks, contraindications, the history of ipecac.

chemistry

Invisible Ink

In The Apothecary Diaries, Maomao hides a message in alcohol revealed by flame. We explain why fruit juice, milk, or alcohol brown before the paper does.

chemistryhistory-of-science

Papermaking

In The Apothecary Diaries, Maomao diagnoses crumbly paper. We explain papermaking, cellulose, and Cai Lun's invention.

chemistrybotany

Perfume Extraction

In The Apothecary Diaries, Maomao distills roses. We explain steam distillation, enfleurage, terpenes, and why natural perfume costs so much.

medicinemicrobiology

Quarantine and Isolation

In The Apothecary Diaries, a contagious patient is isolated. The history of quarantine, fomites, and isolation long before germs were understood.

toxicologymedicine

Sensory Detection of Poison

Maomao inspects the soup by sight and smell. We explain the food-taster method, how silver tarnishes, and why arsenic went undetected.

chemistrymicrobiology

Salting and Brining

In The Apothecary Diaries, Maomao dates a batch of seaweed using her knowledge of brining. We explain how salt preserves food, and why it eventually fails.

medicinehistory-of-science

Surgical Sutures

In The Apothecary Diaries, Maomao is recovering from fifteen stitches. The history of suture thread, from Egyptian linen to resorbable catgut and synthetic thread.