5 Care and the Welsh medical home
-
Alun Withey
Abstract
The role of the early modern home as both a storehouse of medical knowledge and physical space of healing has long been stressed. Many seventeenth- and eighteenth-century self-help books extolled the virtues of a well-equipped kitchen. Home-brewing was an important part of the domestic routine, and especially in larger houses. Honey, too, was a common medicinal ingredient, useful for a range of purposes from burns to colds. Aside from individual ingredients, there are other items which may also point to the production or storage of medicines within the home. Turning to the shop inventory of one John Thomas of Llandaff, direct evidence of the presence of medicines for sale can be seen. Apothecary shops were widespread across many areas of Wales. Richard Philpots, a Swansea apothecary, may have been responsible for mixing and preparing many of the remedies for sale in his shop.
Abstract
The role of the early modern home as both a storehouse of medical knowledge and physical space of healing has long been stressed. Many seventeenth- and eighteenth-century self-help books extolled the virtues of a well-equipped kitchen. Home-brewing was an important part of the domestic routine, and especially in larger houses. Honey, too, was a common medicinal ingredient, useful for a range of purposes from burns to colds. Aside from individual ingredients, there are other items which may also point to the production or storage of medicines within the home. Turning to the shop inventory of one John Thomas of Llandaff, direct evidence of the presence of medicines for sale can be seen. Apothecary shops were widespread across many areas of Wales. Richard Philpots, a Swansea apothecary, may have been responsible for mixing and preparing many of the remedies for sale in his shop.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Preface ix
- Acknowledgements xi
- List of figures xiii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I Disease and mortality in early modern Wales
- 1 Disease and Welsh society 17
-
Part II Medical knowledge in early modern Wales
- 2 The Welsh body and popular medical culture 29
- 3 The spread of medical information 57
- 4 An economy of knowledge 86
-
Part III Domestic sickness and care in the Welsh home
- 5 Care and the Welsh medical home 99
- 6 Sickness experience and the ‘sick role’ 121
- 7 Caring for the sick 141
- 8 ‘Neighbourliness’ and the medical community 171
- 9 Conclusion 197
- Appendix A 205
- Appendix B 207
- Select bibliography 211
- Index 237
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Preface ix
- Acknowledgements xi
- List of figures xiii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I Disease and mortality in early modern Wales
- 1 Disease and Welsh society 17
-
Part II Medical knowledge in early modern Wales
- 2 The Welsh body and popular medical culture 29
- 3 The spread of medical information 57
- 4 An economy of knowledge 86
-
Part III Domestic sickness and care in the Welsh home
- 5 Care and the Welsh medical home 99
- 6 Sickness experience and the ‘sick role’ 121
- 7 Caring for the sick 141
- 8 ‘Neighbourliness’ and the medical community 171
- 9 Conclusion 197
- Appendix A 205
- Appendix B 207
- Select bibliography 211
- Index 237
