HIST 20 Lecture 7: Creating Healthy Cities: development of western public health & sanitation in the 19th century
Document Summary
Creating healthy cities: development of western public health & sanitation in the 19th century. Politics of modern public health in 1900s. Health is balance of humors: blood , black bile, yellow bile, phlegm. Significance of printing press, locates most works of antiquity to republish and translate. New theories apply to medicine (scientific method) Begins supremacy of observation, disproved old humors theory. Heart pumps blood to organs and back out. New knowledge provided little insight into disease. New discoveries yet old treatment and med. Exception: peruvian bark (quinine) for malaria treatment. Combinations of natural world to create cures. Few doctors prior to profession of med (1800s) Most had care network of family or friends. Usually women healers, botanical cures soothers (lemon teas) Women eventually get pushed out with professionalist movement until mid-20th century. Unlike most science, observation seemed to confirm ancient wisdom regarding disease. Ex. rotten food made you sick odors. Miasma theory: bad airs and acclimation theory.
