Publisher's Synopsis
"Medicine and Charity Before the Welfare State" offers a broad perspective on the relationship between charity and medicine in Western Europe between the Middle Ages and the advent of welfare states in the 20th century. Medical history is analyzed not just as an integral part of social history, but as offering a powerful insight into relations between donors, practitioners, patients and the wider society. Through detailed case studies, the authors highlight significant differences between Britain, France, Italy and Germany, and offer a critical vocabulary for grasping the issues raised. The publication of this book reflects recent developments relating to the role of charity in medicine, particularly the revival of interest in the place of voluntary provision in contemporary social policy. It emphasizes the changing balance of "care" and "cure" as the aim of medical charity, and shows how economic and political factors influenced the varying forms of charity.;This book should be of interest to students, teachers and researchers of the history of medicine, social history, and social policy.
