Old school obesity treatments on show

Would you be tempted to buy a soap that claimed to 'wash away fat and years of age'? La-Mar Reducing Soap, on sale in the 1930s, is just one of the fascinating products on display in the latest exhibition at the Museum of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB). 

Alongside obesity, the display also investigates how gout has been treated over time. Traditionally seen as a disease affecting port-swilling men, the display looks back at treatments developed by the Ancient Egyptians and brings the story right up to date with the latest prescription medicines.

The display also investigates a third topic: poisons as treatments, focussing on substances such as hemlock, arsenic and belladonna. 

The latest in the RPSGB's series of Developing Treatments exhibitions, the display is free to visit, and the exhibition area is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. The display will be on show for a year.

The RPSGB headquarters is at 1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN.

• Image: 'Universal Pills No.3', Published by W. Spooner, around 1830-40