British Medicine in an Age of Reform (Wellcome Institute Series in the History of Medicine)

British Medicine in an Age of Reform, charts the nature and dynamics of the radical changes which occurred between 1780 and 1850 - a great turning point in British medicine. Medicine was reformed just as politics was being reformed. It became a recognizable profession, and at the same time there was an impetus from within to base the subject upon science. By the end of the 1850's medicine had become perceptibly `modern'. Contributions by acknowledged experts cover subjects from Apothecaries' Act of 1815 to froensic medicine, and the effect of scientific medicine on the doctor-patient relationship. Fascinating and detailed, British Medicine in an Age of Reform provides a rich source of information for students of social history, the history of medicine and science, and for those working in the medical profession. Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Tables and figures......Page 8 Editors and contributors......Page 9 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Introduction......Page 11 1 Reforming the patient in the age of reform: Thomas Beddoes and medical practice......Page 19 Thomas Beddoes......Page 21 Civilization and its sicknesses......Page 22 Enlightenment and illness......Page 30 The road to reform......Page 37 Conclusion......Page 42 Notes......Page 44 2 Private enterprise and public interests: medical education and the Apothecaries’ Act, 1780–18251......Page 55 Notes......Page 77 3 ‘Trading assassins’ and the licensing of anatomy......Page 84 Notes......Page 99 4 The disappearance of the patient’s narrative and the invention of hospital medicine......Page 102 Notes......Page 116 Introduction......Page 120 The actors: Robert Carswell and William Thomson......Page 121 The setting: L’Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon......Page 122 Carswell at the Hôtel-Dieu: the primacy of pathology......Page 130 Thomson at the Hôtel-Dieu: the scientific surgeon......Page 134 Conclusion......Page 139 Notes......Page 141 6 The idea of science in English medicine: the ‘decline of science’ and the rhetoric of reform, 1815–45......Page 145 The ‘decline of science’ in England and the rise of medicine in France......Page 146 Degradation proclaimed: science and the general practitioner......Page 148 Declinism and reform......Page 152 Science and professional order......Page 156 A comparative perspective on the meaning of science......Page 160 The idea of science......Page 164 Notes......Page 165 7 Why were most medical heretics at their most confident around the 1840s? (The other side of mid-Victorian medicine)......Page 174 Notes......Page 191 8 William Brande and the chemical education of medical students......Page 194 Notes......Page 207 9 A scientific profession: medical reform and forensic medicine in British periodicals of the early nineteenth century......Page 211 Forensic medicine as exemplar of ideals......Page 213 Medico-legal exposures......Page 221 Publicity, reform, and forensic medicine......Page 230 Notes......Page 232 10 Religion, respectability and the origins of the modern nurse......Page 238 Notes......Page 257 Index......Page 262 Between 1780 and 1850 was one of the great turning points in British medicine. Medicine was reformed just as politics was being reformed, and many of the characteristics of modern medicine emerged. British Medicine in an Age of Reform charts the nature and dynamics of the radical changes which occurred in this period. With the help of the State, medicine became a recognizable profession. At the same time, there was a push from within medicine to base the subject on science and to develop a career structure that did not depend upon social connections but instead worked as a meritocracy. By the end of the 1850s, medicine had become perceptibly 'modern'. It lacked only 'germ theory' which was to follow a few years later. The details of the Apothecaries' Act, the use of the rhetoric of science for the purpose of medical reform, and the ways in which post-revolutionary French medicine was used as an example in British reforms are documented by the contributors. Other contributions include discussions of forensic medicine as a paradigm of reform, the teaching of chemistry to medical students, and how scientific medicine affected the doctor-patient relationship. The contributors to British Medicine in an Age of Reform are all recognized experts in their subjects. The book will provide a rich source of information for students of social history, the history of medicine and science, and for those working in the medical profession. Reforming The Patient In The Age Of Reform : Thomas Beddoes And Medical Practice / Roy Porter -- Private Enterprise And Public Interests : Medical Education And The Apothecaries' Act, 1780-1825 / Susan C. Lawrence -- 'trading Assassins' And The Licensing Of Anatomy / Ruth Richardson -- The Disappearance Of The Patient's Narrative And The Invention Of Hospital Medicine / Mary E. Fissell -- Robert Carswell And William Thomson At The Hôtel-dieu Of Lyons : Scottish Views Of French Medicine / Stephen Jacyna -- The Idea Of Science In English Medicine : The 'decline Of Science' And The Rhetoric Of Reform, 1815-45 / John Harley Warner -- Why Were Most Medical Heretics At Their Most Confident Around The 1840s? : (the Other Side Of Mid-victorian Medicine) / Logie Barrow. William Brande And The Chemical Education Of Medical Students / Elizabeth Haigh -- A Scientific Profession : Medical Reform And Forensic Medicine In British Periodicals Of The Early Nineteenth Century / Catherine Crawford -- Religion, Respectability And The Origins Of The Modern Nurse / Perry Williams. Edited By Roger French And Andrew Wear. Based On A Conference Held Sept. 1987 In London And Sponsored By The Royal Institution's Centre For The History Of Science And Technology. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Between 1780 and 1850 was one of the great turning points in British medicine. The authors chart the nature and dynamics of the radical changes which occurred in this period