Food and Medical Practice By Josie and Peyton, and edited by Tom

Diet and Nutrition People depended on grain for their diet “Just price”: most people believed in this medieval idea  prices should be ‘fair’ and imposed by government decrees This idea clashed with the free-market philosophy [Smith] which was favored by government officials , economists, and landowners. Food riots and public disturbances

The potato, market gardening, bread, and sugar Basically, people ate a lot of potatoes

The “Hard to read” slide The enlightenment focused on laws and nature  gave rise to number of practitioners and experimentation/research in medicine Faith healers believed demons and evil spirits caused disease Urban cities: apothecaries sold expensive drugs, only which a few worked like strong laxatives and regular purging: considered vital for good health

Physicians Frequently bled people let people die Apprenticed in their teens for several years… (oh god not again)

Surgeons Made considerable medical/social progress Amy surgeons led the way However they didn’t have painkillers [people died of shock] and performed surgery in midst of filth  bacteria and infection

Midwives Suspected of witch-craft in 16th/17th c. Orchestrated labor and birth for women Male surgeons avoided this (wonder why?)

Hospitals and Medical Experiments Hospitals kept in poor condition Crowded, no fresh air, and hospital reform began in late 18c century due to Diderot’s article Mental hospitals savage Mental illness misunderstood and inhumanely treated

Medical Experimentation Intensified in second half of 18th c. Creative quackery (?) involving discovery of electricity Greatest triumph: conquest of smallpox Helped lay foundation for science of immunology in 19th c.

Multiple Choice Questions (I hope I know the answers) Which class had a better diet? The wealthy The poor What occupation was often suspected of witchcraft? Midwives Surgeons Physician What new food helped the poor a lot from not starving? Tomato Corn potato