Every Man His Own Physician

Historical Context

Medicine in 18th-Century England

In the mid-18th Century, England was developing its medical prowess, awareness, and education. Generational knowledge of disease outbreaks, infections, and treatment was critical in these advancements. Past epidemics like the Black Death and the Great Plague of London had decimated a significant portion of the English population in the 14th and 17th Centuries, respectively. While these events were detrimental to the lives of millions of Europeans, they also taught the surviving populations important information regarding the spread of infectious disease and its treatment. Contagion theory, the belief that some diseases could be transmitted from person to person by contact, was gaining in popularity and acceptance in the early 18th Century, yet physicians could not reach a consensus. Germ theory would not be widely accepted until the 19th Century.

Additionally, organized medicine was still in development. Hospitals existed throughout England but small towns often had less access to them. Instead, many small English towns and cities were serviced by privately practicing, often uncertified surgeons. Medical schools provided a rich liberal arts education and a wealth of medical knowledge to physicians but they were expensive. Uncertified surgery was a profession that was often passed through a family, and the entirety of a surgeon’s education often came from their parent’s instruction. These surgeons’ services were less expensive than trained physicians’ but their education and services were not as exceptional; many small towns still did not have access to many surgeons. Thus, small towns in 18th-century England had relatively poor medical treatment and relied on familial practices and remedies. People in large cities like London enjoyed increased access to hospitals, physicians, and surgeons.