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Medical Humanities Tour
Medical Humanities Tour
After a nice morning walk, our tour guide Mary took us to St Mary's Hospital, the institution that contained Alexander Fleming's Laboratory. As seen on the plaque, it was in this laboratory that he discovered penicillin, the first antibiotic that led to the development of this life saving medicine.
Fleming's Laboratory
Fleming's Laboratory
Although it may look like this lab is violating numerous health codes and cleanliness standards, Fleming's work space provided him with the unique opportunity to discover penicillin. After preparing multiple plates of staphylococcus aureus and leaving them out on his lab bench for a few weeks to see for any adverse or new reaction, Fleming discovered a penicillium mold growing on one of the dishes out of chance. However, upon a closer look, around the penicillium mold was a zone of inhibition, or an area around the mold where there was no bacterial growth. Fleming realized that the mold must be producing some kind of substance to inhibit bacterial growth. He first named this substance "mold juice," but eventually settled on the name penicillin, naming it after the penicillium mold that produced this substance.
FRS with Kevin the Guide!
FRS with Kevin the Guide!
Matthew almost squirted lemon juice in his eyes because of Kevin's story about Fleming's work revolving around lysozyme. He wanted to replicate one of Fleming's early experiments where he tried to find sources of lysozyme.
Lab Bench & Lysozyme
Lab Bench & Lysozyme
Before penicillin, the majority of Fleming's work revolved around lysozyme, an enzyme with weak antibacterial properties. He found it in many sources including tears, saliva, and egg whites!
FRS in Borough Market!
FRS in Borough Market!
After an eventful morning, we crossed the river over to an icon of London, Borough Market. This market is one of the largest and oldest food markets in London, with some shops dating all the way back to the 12th century, boasting cuisines from all around the world.
The market's atmosphere was warm and welcoming, encouraging human interactions between shopkeepers and customers.
Seating was extremely limited, but some of us managed to secure a spot with a great view!
Florence Nightingale Museum
Florence Nightingale Museum
After lunch at the Borough Market, we took cabs to the Florence Nightingale Museum, located at the St. Thomas' Hospital, celebrates her life and legacy.
Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, transformed healthcare during the 19th century, particularly in the Crimean War (1853-1856). At the Scutari military hospital, she reduced the mortality rate from over 40% to around 2% by implementing strict sanitation practices, such as handwashing, waste disposal, and improved ventilation.
In 1860, she founded the Nightingale School of Nursing at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, establishing standards for nursing education. Her efforts professionalized nursing and spurred public health reforms, leaving a lasting legacy in healthcare.
We began our session with an interactive performance by the museum's own 'Florence Nightingale' describing her life and work (picture to the left)
"Lady with the Lamp"
"Lady with the Lamp"
Florence Nightingale was known as "The Lady with the Lamp" during the Crimean War because she made nightly rounds to care for wounded soldiers, carrying a lamp to light her way. This lamp symbolized her dedication and compassion, establishing her as a pioneering figure in nursing and a moral guide in healthcare.
Dress-up!
Dress-up!
"Experiencing the birth of and breaking the gendered stereotypes of the nursing profession" -Elaine Gao
Pictured from left to right: Jai, Isaac, Siam, Kevin, Fayad
This is Florence's bed, she advocated for beds that allowed for proper ventilation and ease of access for nurses to care for patients effectively. The bed's height and layout were designed to facilitate better care while reducing the risk of infection.
Florence had a complicated relationship with her sister. While she was committed to her work in nursing and social reform, Parthenope was more traditional and expected to fulfill traditional roles of marriage.
Class photo across the bridge!
Dishooms
Dishooms
After a long day of delving deep into London's rich medical history and a quick detour at platform 9 3/4, FRS127 decided to dine at Dishooms, an upscale Indian-Iranian restaurant with world famous locations across England. At Kings Cross, we as a class (minus Erica and Yi :(, we missed them dearly) had our hopes high as Liam claimed this was the "classic Indian restaurant" of London. South Asian cuisine has been a staple of the mixing pot of flavors at London, and Dishooms was no doubt a cultural cornerstone in the community. Dishes were served family style--the best for a family as close at FRS127--allowing us all to choose between many options. Personally, my (Jai) favorite was the black daal (daal makhani) because it packed a punch. Monica Zepeda '28, a fellow FRS127 family member, said her "favorite part was the desert" and that she "shared so many fun laughs [with the group]." Besides for being outright tasty, Dishooms appealed right to my desi palate, bringing a real sense of home to the experience as a whole. As an experience, I know that I'll never forget Fayad's non-alcoholic negroni and the countless laughs and memories we made here as a class :)
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