On Wednesday, 30 September, at 13.00 in Samuel Alexander Building (A201), we will welcome Dr Holly Fletcher (UCL) back to Manchester. Holly is going to speak about her new project:

The Fats of Life in the Early Modern World: Matter in Multispecies Medicine

This paper will introduce my new project, ‘The Fats of Life in the Early Modern World’ (2025-2030, funded by the Wellcome Trust) which examines the transformative impact of animal and plant fats in early modern medicine. During the early modern period fats and oils became vital ingredients in a wide range of medical therapies, from healing wounds and burns to treating digestive issues and nervous disorders. Moreover, colonial encounters and burgeoning global trade networks introduced a growing range of fats, including elephant and lion fat, whale and coconut oil, onto the European medical marketplace. By investigating the uses and understandings of these fats, the project provides an earlier history of ‘multispecies medicine’ in which health was understood to be interdependent with nonhuman life, and pioneers a matter-centred, ‘farm to table’ approach to early modern therapeutics. This talk will offer an overview of the project and share some of its key findings to date.

We hope to see many of you there!

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