Knowledge and Practice in English Medicine, 1550–1680

by Andrew Wear

This is a major synthesis of the knowledge and practice of early modern English medicine, as expressed in vernacular texts set in their social and cultural contexts. The book vividly maps out some central remedies (and how they were made credible), notions of disease, advice on preventive medicine and on healthy living, and how and why surgeons worked on the body. In particular, two of the most high-profile diseases of the age--the pox and the plague--are discussed in detail, and their treatment analyzed.

Genres: History

506 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Librarian note: There are other authors with this name in this data base. For the senior Australian public servant, go to Andrew Wear.

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I didn't read the whole book, but the last three chapters were of great interest. I have been interested in van Helmont for a long time and to discover the influence of the Helomontians in England as critics of Galenism was a revelation. More important was putting Sydenham into context. I had not appreciated how innovative his diagnostic method was. The question of where eighteenth century diagnostic schemes came from makes more sense. Wear deserves great credit for describing a quiet period in history.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an Americanist, I'm not too sure how valid my critique is here, but it's too general of a book. Wear also doesn't identify any major trends or shifts... just talks about weird particular niches of medicine rather than proposing anything interesting.