Visualising venereal disease in London c.1780-1860
This thesis explores the various roles that visual representations played in the theoretical understanding of, and practical approaches to, venereal disease in Londonâs medical marketplace from around 1780 to 1860. Venereal disease was understood in a variety of ways, and conceptualised within a number of different medical disciplines, such as pathology and dermatology. The analytic lens of visual representation allows the historian to explore the complexities of these understandings. This thesis therefore contributes to the literature on the historicising of disease. The period under discussion was one of enormous change in medical theory, practice and disciplinary organisation. Disease was being conceptualised as something physical within the body, meaning images of the disease took on new meanings. Furthermore, these representations played an important role in medical education of the period, as well as in the legitimisation of new disciplines. Within these new theoretical paradigms and institutional spaces, various new meanings were created for the visual representations, and their creators and users had to employ various strategies to limit their meaning and control their interpretations. This thesis
Palfreyman, Harriet
DA Great Britain ; RA Public aspects of medicine
Visualising venereal disease in London c.1780-1860. This thesis explores the various roles that visual representations played in the theoretical understanding of, and practical approaches to, venereal disease in Londonâs medical marketplace from around 1780 to 1860. Venereal disease was understood in a variety of ways, and conceptualised within a number of different medical disciplines, such as pathology and dermatology. The analytic lens of visual representation allows the historian to explore the complexities of these understandings. This thesis therefore contributes to the literature on the historicising of disease. The period under discussion was one of enormous change in medical theory, practice and disciplinary organisation. Disease was being conceptualised as something physical within the body, meaning images of the disease took on new meanings. Furthermore, these representations played an important role in medical education of the period, as well as in the legitimisation of new disciplines. Within these new theoretical paradigms and institutional spaces, various new meanings were created for the visual representations, and their creators and users had to employ various strategies to limit their meaning and control their interpretations. This thesis
visualising disease london explores_various role visual_representation play theoretical_practical approach disease london medical marketplace disease understand variety_way conceptualise within number_different medical discipline pathology analytic lens visual_representation allow historian explore complexity understanding therefore contribute literature disease period_discussion enormous change medical theory_practice disciplinary organisation disease conceptualise something physical within body mean image disease take new meaning furthermore representation play_important_role medical education period well new discipline within new theoretical paradigm institutional space various new meaning create visual_representation creator user employ various strategy limit mean control interpretation