Lotions, Potions, Pills, and Magic: Health Care in Early America PDF
Preview Lotions, Potions, Pills, and Magic: Health Care in Early America
Lotions, Potions, Pills, and Magic This page intentionally left blank Lotions, Potions, Pills, and Magic Health Care in Early America Elaine G. Breslaw a NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS New York and London NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS New York and London www.nyupress.org © 2012 by New York University All rights reserved References to Internet websites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing. Neither the author nor New York University Press is responsible for URLs that may have expired or changed since the manuscript was prepared. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Breslaw, Elaine G., 1932- Lotions, potions, pills, and magic : health care in early America / Elaine Breslaw. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8147-8717-5 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN 978-0-8147-8718-2 (e-book) ISBN 978-0-8147-3938-9 (e-book) 1. Medicine—United States—History—18th century. 2. Medicine—United States— History—19th century. 3. Medical care—United States—History—18th century. 4. Medical care—United States—History—19th century. 5. Physicians—United States—History—18th century. 6. Physicians—United States—History—19th century. 7. Public health—United States—History—18th century. 8. Public health—United States—History—19th century. 9. United States—Social conditions—To 1865. I. Title. R152.B725 2012 362.10973—dc23 2012016648 New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper, and their binding materials are chosen for strength and durability. We strive to use environmentally responsible suppliers and materials to the greatest extent possible in publishing our books. Manufactured in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 In few of the civilized nations of our time have the higher sciences made less progress than in the United States. Democratic institutions generally give men a lofty notion of their country. —Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, vol. 2, 1835 This page intentionally left blank To all the Breslaws: Karl, Theresa, Rachel, and Alec And to my husband, John This page intentionally left blank Contents Illustrations xi Acknowledgements xiii Introduction 1 1. Columbian Exchange 9 2. Epidemics 27 3. Tools of the Trade 43 4. Abundance 61 5. Wartime 77 6. New Nation 95 7. Giving Birth 113 8. The Face of Madness 135 9. Democratic Medicine 151 10. Public Health 169 Conclusion 185 Epilogue 193 Abbreviations 201 Bibliographic Essay 203 Index 227 About the Author 237 >> ix
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