Holly Fletcher (London)
The Fats of Life in the Early Modern World. Matter in Multispecies Medicine
26.01.2026
Vortrag im Rahmen des Oberseminars Frühe Neuzeit
This talk will serve as an introduction to Dr. Fletcher's new project (funded by the Wellcome Trust) which examines the transformative impact of plant and animal fats within early modern medicine, c. 1500-1750. In this period, fats became vital ingredients in a wide range of medical therapies, from healing wounds and burns to treating digestive issues and nervous disorders. Her project will trace the introduction and adaptation of new fats (such as whale and palm oil) within European medicine as a result of colonial encounters and burgeoning global trade networks. In so doing, it aims to produce an earlier, matter-centred history of 'multispecies medicine' in which health was understood to be interdependent with nonhuman life.
Zeit: 16 - 18 c.t.
Ort: Amalienstraße 52 - Raum: K026