Sick to Death

what's the feeling here, do we like video slideshows of these photo carousel posts or would you rather just a thread of the images four at a time, but without the twee music?

Last minute shopping? We love Sick to Death as much as the next person, but these objects probably wouldn’t make the best Christmas presents

(with thanks to the Royal Armouries Museum on Tiktok for introducing us to this trend)

A prosthetic dummy dressed as Santa Claus with a white fake beard, red velvet trousers and jacket with white trim. His chest cavity is open and prop organs can be seen inside, along with a fake bladed knife. He is lying on an autopsy table.

we like to play our own version of Whamageddon where we sing the lyrics and then you have to guess if we mean it literally or like ❤️

8 Text: So, thank you to Dr Stretton and thank you to Chris for bringing this fascinating story of medical history to all of us here at Sick to Death. At the top is a slightly blurry photo of an older man, with a large white moustache, in a suit and tie*. It’s frame with brown scrapbook details. To the right is half of a green circle with a white cross inside.

9 Text: If you’re interested in reading more about Dr Lionel Stretton, you can visit https://johnlionelstretton.com/ for a more in-depth history of his life and work. *Thank you to Chris Stretton for providing access to photos from Lionel Stretton Family Collection to include in this post. On the left is the other half of the green circle and white cross. Below the text, which is on white paper with brown tape, is a black and white photograph of an early 20th century white family outside in a garden. There is a moustached man sat in a wicker chair, to the right is a women in a striped dress and jacket with large sleeves and collar. From the left, starting on the ground and then moving behind the man in the chair, as three children: a boy in the cap sat on the ground holding a cricket bat and ball, a girl in a dark dress and jacket, wearing a straw hat, holding a tennis racket, and a younger boy in light trousers and shirt, as well as a cap, stood straight up, one hand resting on a cricket bat, the other at his waist.

5 Text: This specific formulation was strong enough to be antiseptic, but gentle enough to avoid skin irritation, it had a long shelf-life, and wouldn’t fumigate the wards (something nurses certainly seemed to appreciate). The majority of this image is a black and white photographs of nurses, all women, in uniform, as well as perhaps some clergy with a sister/nun and a vicar/priest. There is also a man in a dark suit with a moustache and a man in a white uniform also with a moustache. It’s from the early 20th century, taken outside. The photo is cut off at the right side. To the left is the rest of the screen shot that says (ournal.) and (1910.)

6 Text: And that fact that it still stained the skin yellow? Well, this was actually good thing, as it meant you could easily confirm that a patient had been treated with the antiseptic pre-surgery and during post-operative care. It was simple, efficient, and effective! The rest of the black and white photograph is seen here on the left, with three nurses in uniform and two men in suits, both with moustaches.* Behind some of the text are splotches of transluscent yellow. There is a green bottle of tincture of iodine u.s.p. that says ‘caution poison’ and an effect of green gas behind it. To the right is a cotton ball with a dark orange liquid on it (iodine).

7 Text: Standardising the formulation and use of tincture of iodine BP saved innumerable lives throughout history, especially before the discovery of antibiotics; from soldiers on the battlefronts of World War I to children with a common scraped knee. Behind the text is torn paper. Then below are crossed modern fabric plasters to form an X, a green bottle of tincture of iodine B.P., and a cardboard tube of (Io)dine Ampoule for External Use, with a small glass bulb filled with a dark reddish brown liquid.

1 Text: Some of you may have experienced the sting of iodine yourself. Ouch - indeed! But did you know about its significant link to British medical history? Part of a collage image that joins together as you scroll left to right. A scrapbook effect with a green background under the text. A photo of a young white boy and his mother in a 1960s kitchen having a plaster applied to his knee, there are graphic red ‘zaps’ above his head. At the right is most of a glass bottle labelled Tincture of Iodine that crosses over into the next image.*

2 Text: We were very interested to learn more about Dr J Lionel Stretton of Kidderminster, who was instrumental in the development of tincture of iodine, when his great grandson Chris visited Sick to Death last month. Continuing the scrapbook feel, a black and white sepia photograph of a middle aged white man with a large moustache, in a suit and tie, is framed in old fashioned photo album corner.* From the left the iodine bottle is visible and to the right is the handle of a scalpel.

3 Text: Humans have been performing surgeries for thousands of years, but one of the main causes of death and complications over that time wasn’t necessarily the surgery itself, but the infections that could set in afterwards. Underneath the text is a brown piece of card and some masking tape. The blade of a scalpel is seen on the left. There is a black and white woodcut image of a man having his leg amputated by three other men, it’s been frames with an over the top gilded ornate frame. To the right are some green oversized bacteria and part of an orange high vis bag.

4 Text: In the early 1900s, at a time when many doctors and surgeons were working to improve upon early antiseptics to reduce infections post-surgery, Dr Stretton was focused on the refinement of tincture of iodine. His 2.5% solution, tincture of iodine BP (British Pharmacopoeia), was first published in 1909 in the British Medical Journal and soon became the standard used around the world – it can still be found in many first aid kits and emergency survival kits today! The top of this image shows a piece of white card with some tape in the corners. The text on the bottom half is backed by green paper. To the left the other half of the bacteria graphic and the orange high vis bag can be seen (it is now obviously a first aid kit). In between the paragraphs of text is half of a screenshot for the British Medical Jo(the rest carries on in the next image). London: Saturday October 15th, (the rest carries on in the next image).

We love when our visitors share medical history stories with us - and this one, about a family connection to the history of iodine was so interesting we just had to share it with you! Do you have an interesting story or a link to medical history in your past? Let us know in the replies!

Hey look! It's us! We'll never tire of the stunning surrounds and sense of heritage that St Michael's Church offers us here at Sick to Death. 🖤

> the current stone porch that makes up a part of the Bridge Street Rows is from 1849-50 when the church was largely rebuilt by James Harrison.

You can see a fantastic piece of art from the Grosvenor Museum's collection featuring this tower porch in our doorway throughout Rowvember.

There has been a covered porch at the front of St Michael's church for hundreds of years, first wooden and then stone. While it's likely that a stone church was first built on this site in the 1100s, >

if you carve a turnip let us know

A meme of Marge Simpson holding a potato, below it says: I just think they're neat! Superimposed over the potato is a cut out digital sticker of a carved turnip jack o' lantern with a scary face on it.

A large orange pumpkin on a shelf, with small black riding l writing on it. To the left is a small carved turnip with a creepy face, small narrow eyes with cat like pupils and a grimacing mouth with lots of small teeth. It's all lit with a slightly purple light.

You can find more facts about Halloween themes and medical history dotted throughout the museum if you visit this week!

Jack o’ lanterns are said to represent many things,
from roaming supernatural beings, wards against evil or harmful spirits, Christian souls in purgatory, or even just scary but fun decorations!

Most are carved from pumpkins now, but they were traditionally lanterns made from turnips, mangelwurzels, and other root vegetables.

Pumpkins are originally from the Americas, so they weren’t used until European settlers began introducing the tradition over there in the mid 1800s.

Samhain, Hallowe’en, All Hallow’s Eve and
All Saint’s Day, Diá de los Muertos. One of the most iconic symbols today is the jack o’ lantern. There are many stories about how they
came to be, but it’s believed the practise began in Ireland and Britain and is tied into folklore about will o’ the wisps.

Here at Sick to Death we always like to give a (horrifying) nod to history with our seasonal displays!

There are many holidays at this time of year that have similar themes of remembering the dead, and
the veil between the living and the dead being thinner:

you will not be surprised to learn that our staff skew Very heavily in the Halloween direction, on the holidays spectrum

The alignment of Halloween with the October half-term is truly a gift.

If you're looking for days out during the holidays next month, come explore our weird little medical history attraction!

We'll be adding extra strange, spooky, and silly touches to the experience for our favourite season.

A group of ten adult students, all in different clothes, men and women, wearing lanyards. They're stood posing in an area with a stone arch. In the middle of the group is a person dressed as a plague doctor and one student in wooden stocks, with rotten fruit on it, and a sign that says Sick to Death Chester.

We've been having a great time with groups of new @uochester.bsky.social nursing students visiting us all day today!

Wishing you all the best on your studies ahead... but may your bedside manner be better than Plaguey D's.

👏👏👏

guys we finally have an idea for Halloween costume for Plaguey D

A screenshot of the section of an e-mail, white background with black text: Dear Sick, We are pleased to advise you that t...

that's Doctour in Phisicke Sick to you...

you just can't get the respect these days

*its 🙄

An angled photograph looking up an old roof, with two main sections visible, above a sandstone wall arch, just seen on the right. The first section of the roof is dark panelled wood, with intricate carvings and gilded accents. At the base of some of the wooden arches are carvings, in both wood and stone. Beyond, is a 'newer' section of roof with large open wooden arched beams and a Tudor style timbered roof with white sections between each beam. In the far distance, just visible through the open arches, in an open arch of the bell tower is a skeletal figure in a robe.

*slaps roof of church*

take a look at this bad boy, still got it's original 15th century north arcade and chancel, hardly ever leaks

(We heard we're taking photos of nice old rooves?)

An angled photograph looking up an old roof, with two main sections visible, above a sandstone wall arch, just seen on the right. The first section of the roof is dark panelled wood, with intricate carvings and gilded accents. At the base of some of the wooden arches are carvings, in both wood and stone. Beyond, is a 'newer' section of roof with large open wooden arched beams and a Tudor style timbered roof with white sections between each beam. In the far distance, just visible through the open arches, in an open arch of the bell tower is a skeletal figure in a robe.

*slaps roof of church*

take a look at this bad boy, still got it's original 15th century north arcade and chancel, hardly ever leaks

(We heard we're taking photos of nice old rooves?)

Scared to Death is on for three nights only: Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday, October 29th, 30th, & 31st.

From 6:30pm – 10pm (last entry 9pm).

Recommended for ages 12+ due to frights and scares. Our grave digger will be on duty, should they be needed...

Tickets available now: www.sicktodeath.org

It's a perfectly quirky way to immerse yourselves in the strangest season, with a Halloween activity trail (with trick OR treat prizes), extra fun characters to meet, and even face painting on select days!

Oct 25th - Nov 2nd, 10am - 6pm (last entry 5pm). Tickets available now: www.sicktodeath.org

A poster graphic with a black background and a plague doctor character appearing out of the darkness, with a lit lantern raised by their beaked mask. It reads in various black and red and beige fonts: Sick[crossed out] Scared to Death! Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, October 29th, 30th, & 31st. 6:30pm – 10pm (last admission 9pm).

A dark cellar, the photo has been heavily post-processed. There is a plague doctor character digging in the soil with a shovel, surrounded by candles and carved pumpkins.

This Halloween, Sick To Death becomes SCARED To Death with late night openings!

We invite you to explore the gory story of medicine by lantern light as you are stalked around our historic church by perilous plague victims and barbaric barbers!

Will you survive the night and all it has to offer?

A poster graphic with a beige background, gothic black border, and prominent orange, black, and red Halloween imagery. All the fonts are slightly 'spooky' or 'horrible' and it reads: Sick to Death presents: Horrible Halloween. Saturday October 25th - Sunday November 2nd: Open every day 10am - 6pm, last admission 5pm. Family-friendly fun!

A women dressed in tatty clothes, with a hooded cowl, is holding a dirty sponge on a stick. Beside her is a stack of carved pumpkins, the top one, being held by a rat puppet. The scenery is old wood, beams, a lantern, and an old sign that says 'Festering Flies'.

Our favourite time of year is almost here! Get excited for some spooky family fun this Halloween half-term at Sick to Death!

Join us during the day-time for thrills that everyone can enjoy, as you explore the gory story of medicine.

Bring your weird morbid little children! We know you have them!