The Physicians' Gallery is a free public exhibition space which is part of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Our exhibitions are based on the wealth of historical medical material which the College has collected over the last 300 years.

From heroin to gambling, from alcohol to love, Hooked explores the history of addiction. It invites you to consider the stereotypes attached to addiction and how all of us can be vulnerable to it. Exploring pills, drink, snuff and cigarettes, we uncover the many faces of addiction and the many attempts to combat it. We explore the dark origins of substance addiction in the western world – rooted deeply in colonialism and slavery. Featuring books, objects, artworks and interviews, the exhibition considers the meaning of addiction, its causes and the stigma attached to being addicted.

Hooked: 500 Years of Addiction

Come along to our drop-in fun day and learn all about the bladder! Try your hand at testing "urine" in our lab, de-code Roman spy letters written in "urine", get crafty and build a functioning urinary system, meet a real snake and discover what snakes have to do with bladders, explore how to pee when you can’t with POOSScotland CIC, get sparkly with our glitter tattoos, build an edible urinary system (if you don’t eat it first), listen to fascinating talks from real doctors and experts... and more! A fun day for all ages!

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

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