Listen to an edited recording of this event. Download an MP3.

For centuries, popular belief held that a skin condition known as the King's Evil could be cured by a touch from the monarch. Dr Helen Bynum explored the history of this phenomenon and how its practice fitted with scientific thought during the same period.

The mystery object revealed at the event was a gold touchpiece, given to an individual with scrofula who attended a 'healing by touch' ceremony held by Queen Anne (reigned 1701–1714). The image above shows both sides of the touchpiece, which was pierced so it could be worn around the neck on a ribbon.

The touchpiece is from the Wellcome Collection at the Science Museum, reference A215230.

This event was recorded live at Wellcome Collection on 22 February 2012.

Blind and partially sighted visitors were invited to join members of the Visitor Services team for audio descriptions of the ‘mystery object’, the event space and set-up, plus a guided tour with descriptions of relevant objects and themes from our permanent collection 'Medicine Man'. 

Find out more about access at Wellcome Collection. You can also email access@wellcomecollection.org or call 020 7611 2222.