East Meets West

Exhibition at the Science Museum, London, until 27 June

   According to Robert Temple in his book The Genius of China, the Chinese were isolating sex and pituitary hormones from the urine by sublimation as early as the 2nd century BC and using them for medicinal purposes. The crystals they obtained were traditionally called “autumn mineral,” being likened to the hoarfrost of the autumn and were said to be used by the Prince …