Dr Lindsey Fitzharris

A Christmas card featuring a polar bear holding a man in its claws. At the top, it says: "Happy Christmas!" At the bottom, it says: "A bearly welcome."

It's December 1st - which means I get to share weird and wonderful Victorian Christmas cards, starting with one that looks straight out of #StarWars. @markhamillofficial.bsky.social, is that you?

Oh, I absolutely love the insanity of these!

A Christmas card featuring a polar bear holding a man in its claws. At the top, it says: "Happy Christmas!" At the bottom, it says: "A bearly welcome."

It's December 1st - which means I get to share weird and wonderful Victorian Christmas cards, starting with one that looks straight out of #StarWars. @markhamillofficial.bsky.social, is that you?

So, did y’all survive Thanksgiving?! 👀

Painting of three burgers on a wooden board.

I'm working on a painting commission which I can't really share with you yet, but I can at least show you some work on the burger platter.

I'm glad I stopped posting on X A year ago, I abandoned my account. It was the right thing to do.

It has now been a year since I stopped posting on X. For @spitfirenews.com, I wrote about watching the platform I loved become a conduit for the worst extremism I've ever witnessed. I don't regret leaving. In fact, I wish I'd left even earlier.
spitfirenews.com/p/x-bluesky-...

a spongebob squarepants scene with a yellow flower and a banana Alt: a spongebob squarepants scene with a yellow flower and a banana

Anyone else feel like they are crawling to the finish line as 2025 comes to a close?

Medical students outside the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 1912.

The Intermediaries A <em>Kirkus Reviews</em> Best Book of the Year <br /><br /> The fascinating history of a daring team of sexologists who built the first trans clinic in the shadow of the Third Reich., The Intermedia...

@profciara.bsky.social I don’t know if you saw; I am the author of THE INTERMEDIARIES —It’s been one of those things, where it’s too timely for its own good, and getting the word out has been uphill both ways.

wwnorton.com/books/978132...

Cover of my book, "Elizabeth Boleyn: The Life of the Queen's Mother"

A month (and a day!) ago, my debut book, "Elizabeth Boleyn: The Life of the Queen's Mother" was published! The positive reviews so far have been amazing. I still can't believe Elizabeth's story is out in the world. It was a joy to get to know her, and a privilege to tell her story.

À knitted version of the large intestine and mesentery in blues and oranges

One of the absolute highlights of my trip to Ingolstadt in September was seeing the exhibition ´Ansichtssache’ (a matter of perspective) at the German Medical History Museum. It showed the knitted anatomy of Katharina Sabernig, and I can’t say how much I loved it!

Now up for sale: Cambridge tickets to the latest instalment of the M R James Project. "Not Truly Dead"
14 February, 2026.
ntdcambridge.eventbrite.co.uk

Last day to get 20% off everything in my shop! 💀 www.etsy.com/shop/LandisB...

I am old enough to remember when the unis forced everyone to return to the classrooms during covid, refused to allow anyone to take a gap year, and endangered us all because they wanted the rent money. But I guess they have a new scam now. Won't even need students soon!

A frieze showing Death as a skeleton on the left, and Medicine as a man on the right holding Death back. The man, representing Medicine, is holding a caduceus, the symbol of commerce.

Sharing again because... 👀

This frieze from Fulton County, Georgia shows "Medicine's battle with Death." Note the rod with two snakes. Many mistake it for the Rod of Asclepius (the traditional symbol of healing). However, this is the Caduceus, symbol of commerce. A common error in the USA.

Leopold I, Grand Duke of Tuscany (later Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor), abolished the death penalty throughout his realm in 1786, making it the first country in modern history to do so.

239 years ago, on the 30th of November 1786, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany became the first modern state to abolish the death penalty. Grand Duke Leopold I, who was influenced in the decision by the book 'On Crimes and Punishments', would later become Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II. #otd #history 🗃️

Wow what an incredible story

Last month, @theguardian.com framed this historical event project the same way; minimizing the years of archival work, the interviews etc it took to be able to do this.

Instead ‘AI solved this historical problem!’

Oh that's really interesting!

A Short Personal Note – This is True A couple of pieces of artwork I carry with me everywhere.

I thought it was interesting that this guy got a tattoo of the bas relief but corrected the staff to be the Rod of Asclepius

thisistrue.com/personal-note/

A wax model of a head, with the brain and underlying neck anatomy on display.

This wax model of a human head from the 19th century shows the internal structure of the brain, complete with its protective covering, the meninges, the eye, cheek, neck and jaw. Wax models were used for teaching anatomy to medical students or as part of popular anatomy shows.

It's wild that a person would include AI-generated images in their presentation without shame - that's a big red flag.

A frieze showing Death as a skeleton on the left, and Medicine as a man on the right holding Death back. The man, representing Medicine, is holding a caduceus, the symbol of commerce.

Sharing again because... 👀

This frieze from Fulton County, Georgia shows "Medicine's battle with Death." Note the rod with two snakes. Many mistake it for the Rod of Asclepius (the traditional symbol of healing). However, this is the Caduceus, symbol of commerce. A common error in the USA.

I don’t know if anyone else notices or cares, but when I see a presentation in which the speaker uses obviously generated-AI images to illustrate their slides, it makes me immediately less confident in whatever other content they’re presenting.

Read @rosscmrn.bsky.social's fabulous blog post! And please repost 😊

A wax torso that is dissected at the front to reveal twins inside the uterus.

This remarkably detailed wax anatomical model (1787) is housed at the Javier Puerta Museum. Wax models like this were used for teaching anatomy to medical students at a time when few bodies were available for dissection. It demonstrates the merging of art and science. #histmed #medhist #skystorians

GUEST ARTICLE: The Halifax Disaster, 1917 I’ve wanted to put this story out there for a while, but sometimes, you just have to acknowledge that some people are better placed to do the job than you are.

Today’s Substack features a guest piece from @boneyabroad.com achurchill.substack.com/p/guest-arti...

Former Washington Post contributing columnist here — let’s help the Onion smash the Washington Post!

A wax model of a head, with the brain and underlying neck anatomy on display.

This wax model of a human head from the 19th century shows the internal structure of the brain, complete with its protective covering, the meninges, the eye, cheek, neck and jaw. Wax models were used for teaching anatomy to medical students or as part of popular anatomy shows.

I'm not entirely certain this particular model is based off a specific cadaver but many were - I'll try to find out!