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University offers a course of aspirin

Posted on 22 November 1999

The humble aspirin gets star billing in a series of four free public lectures starting this Thursday (25 November) to celebrate 100 years of its manufacture.

The four talks, given by scientists, archaeologists and historians will look at ancient and medieval drugs and treatments, and the discovery of the 'wonder drug' aspirin. Professor Richard Taylor will discuss how aspirin is made and how it works in his lecture on 2 December. In the final lecture on 16 December, health economist Nick Freemantle will look at aspirin's legacy in the operations of the pharmaceutical industry today.

The lectures are as follows:

  • 25 November The archaeology of plant drugs: the story of a controversy. Professor Don Brothwell, department of Archaeology
  • 2 December Aspirin the wonder drug: how it's made and how it works. Professor Richard Taylor, department of Chemistry
  • 9 December An unholy alliance? Medieval physicians and their apothecaries. Dr Carole Rawcliffe, University of East Anglia
  • 16 December 100 years after aspirin: a pharmaceutical industry in search of health or wealth? Nick Freemantle, Medicines Evaluation Group

All lectures begin at 5.15 pm and will be held in lecture theatre V045, Vanbrugh College. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Contact details

David Garner
Senior Press Officer

Tel: +44 (0)1904 322153