Medicine and society in Wakefield and Huddersfield, 1780-1870
The thesis examines the formation and evolution of medical provisions in Wakefield and Huddersfield between circa 1780 and 1870. The survey covers 'institutional' facilities, namely hospital and dispensary provisions and Poor Law medical services, friendly society facilities for the sick and the development of 'fringe' or 'peripheral' medical practices. The thesis also discusses the structural, professional and social development of medical communities in the two towns. A wide range of source material was utilised, to include Poor Law material (pre- and post-1834), the records of friendly societies and medical charities census returns, newspapers, trade and medical directories and parliamentary reports and returns. The use of such a combination of material gives a better indication of the range of facilities available and their relative importance. It will be suggested that the emphasis medical historians have put on institutional provisions has been misplaced. The importance of previously neglected options, the friendly society and 'peripheral' forms of treatment, will be stressed. Leading on from this, it is possible to suggest that self-help forms of medical relief (compared with those 'provided' by the
Marland, Hilary
DA Great Britain ; RA Public aspects of medicine
Medicine and society in Wakefield and Huddersfield, 1780-1870. The thesis examines the formation and evolution of medical provisions in Wakefield and Huddersfield between circa 1780 and 1870. The survey covers 'institutional' facilities, namely hospital and dispensary provisions and Poor Law medical services, friendly society facilities for the sick and the development of 'fringe' or 'peripheral' medical practices. The thesis also discusses the structural, professional and social development of medical communities in the two towns. A wide range of source material was utilised, to include Poor Law material (pre- and post-1834), the records of friendly societies and medical charities census returns, newspapers, trade and medical directories and parliamentary reports and returns. The use of such a combination of material gives a better indication of the range of facilities available and their relative importance. It will be suggested that the emphasis medical historians have put on institutional provisions has been misplaced. The importance of previously neglected options, the friendly society and 'peripheral' forms of treatment, will be stressed. Leading on from this, it is possible to suggest that self-help forms of medical relief (compared with those 'provided' by the
medicine society examines formation evolution medical provision circa survey cover institutional facility namely hospital provision poor_law medical_service friendly society facility sick development fringe peripheral medical_practice also_discuss structural professional social development medical community town wide_range source_material utilised include poor_law material pre__post record friendly society medical charity census_return newspaper trade medical directory parliamentary report return use_combination material give_good indication range facility available relative_importance suggest emphasis medical historian put institutional provision importance previously_neglect option friendly society peripheral form treatment stress leading possible suggest self_help form medical relief compare provided