Domestic medicine in eighteenth century Scotland
Throughout the eighteenth century the majority of the population of Scotland were dependent on their own home remedies for treating illnesses. Early in the century doctors were scarce and the difficulties of travel plus the high fees they charged put their services beyond the reach of most people. Even later in the century when roads improved and an increasing number of medical graduates were trained, in rural Scotland domestic medicine was still the only form of treatment available to many. The sources of eighteenth century domestic remedies were largely the same as the sources of orthodox medicine, namely traditional herbal recipes derived from the ancients, and from the mediaeval herbals. Such remedies were perpetuated by word of mouth, in ballads and songs, and in diaries, letters and kitchen books, as well as in printed books. The present thesis aims to illustrate the type of home remedy used, drawing mainly on primary sources, and using as examples various common eighteenth century ailments, such as scurvy, smallpox, consumption, etc. Home remedies changed little in the course of the century, but orthodox medicine underwent considerable changes meanwhile, with the reform of the Pharmacopoeia and the
Hatfield, Vivienne Gabrielle
Herbal medicine ; Traditional medicine ; Plants, Medicinal ; Medicine, Popular
Domestic medicine in eighteenth century Scotland. Throughout the eighteenth century the majority of the population of Scotland were dependent on their own home remedies for treating illnesses. Early in the century doctors were scarce and the difficulties of travel plus the high fees they charged put their services beyond the reach of most people. Even later in the century when roads improved and an increasing number of medical graduates were trained, in rural Scotland domestic medicine was still the only form of treatment available to many. The sources of eighteenth century domestic remedies were largely the same as the sources of orthodox medicine, namely traditional herbal recipes derived from the ancients, and from the mediaeval herbals. Such remedies were perpetuated by word of mouth, in ballads and songs, and in diaries, letters and kitchen books, as well as in printed books. The present thesis aims to illustrate the type of home remedy used, drawing mainly on primary sources, and using as examples various common eighteenth century ailments, such as scurvy, smallpox, consumption, etc. Home remedies changed little in the course of the century, but orthodox medicine underwent considerable changes meanwhile, with the reform of the Pharmacopoeia and the
domestic medicine scotland throughout majority population scotland dependent home remedy treat illness doctor scarce difficulty travel plus high fee charge put service beyond reach people even road improve increase_number medical graduate train rural scotland domestic medicine still form treatment available many source domestic remedy largely source orthodox medicine namely traditional recipe derive ancient mediaeval remedy perpetuate word mouth song diary_letter kitchen book well print book present_aim illustrate type home remedy use draw_mainly primary_source use example various common consumption etc home remedy change little course_century orthodox medicine underwent considerable_change meanwhile reform