Chapter 20 Part 2

1. Chapter 20Part 2 Life Expectancy Medical Improvements Religion

2. Increased Life Expectancy in the 18th Century • European life spans increased from 25 to 45 years in the 18th Century • Due to the disappearance of starvation and the plague • More time spent by children on education and preparation for adulthood

3. Public Health Improvements • New Practices in sanitation • Mass vaccinations • Better clothing • Better housing • Adequate foods (and variety)

4. Diets prior the the 18th Century • Grain was awesomely important • Dark bread made of rye and ground wheat • Most peasants ate two pounds of bread a day and washed it down with water, green beer, etc. • Grain was also added to soups and gruel • In Scotland, people ate oatmeal…often half-cooked so it would swell in the stomach and make the eater feel full

5. Belief in a “just price” • The medieval view that bread should be affordable even to the poor was overturned with free market capitalism and the corn laws • Many poor had to resort to eating vegetables! • They believed that vegetables, especially raw, was fit food for livestock only!

6. Milk was rarely drunk • Many held the belief that milk caused sore eyes and headaches for all but the very young and the very old • Most milk was used to make cheese and butter (which the poor could rarely afford) • They did drink whey…the leftover liquid after milk was churned…watery

7. During the 18th Century • Diets improved radically • Poor people’s diets usually consisted of grains and vegetables • The potato improved the diets of the poor (vitamins A and C) (lack of C =Scurvy) • Average Irish male ate 8-10 lbs a day) • The potato kept poor populations alive • Greater variety of veggies available in towns and cities

8. The Upper Classes • Consumed more meat, fish, alcohol, white bread • Less fruit and vegetables • Often greater affluence meant poorer nutrition (sugar, white bread, meat) • Northern Europeans ate better than those in Mediterranean and South • The English ate the best of all

9. Medical Improvements • The biggest improvement was the smallpox vaccine • In the 17th century 25% of deaths in England was due to smallpox • Smallpox killed 60 million in the 18th century • Was contracted by 80% of Europeans…many scarred for life

10. Edward Jenner 1749-1823 • Introduced the vaccine for smallpox • Thus created the foundation for the science of immunology • He discovered that inoculating people with cowpox would control the onset of small pox

11. Late 18th Century Humanitarianism • Influenced Hospital reform • Belief that disease was caused by “bad air” • Ventilation was improved • Filth was cleaned up • The spread of infection was reduced • The first humane mental hospital 1790 in England

12. In the 18th Century • An increase in the number of medical practitioners • When breakthroughs occurred, word spread rapidly • Many different medical practitioners: faith healers, apothecaries (pharmacists), physicians, surgeons, midwives • Women were denied admission to medical colleges and were denied certificates and diplomas so were generally limited to midwifery and faith healing

13. Faith Healers • Believed in demons and evil spirits as causes of ailments • Believed that spells and exorcisms were needed • This belief persisted longer in the countryside • Faith in the healing powers of prayer, religious relics and the laying on of hands • Was often effective when used for mental disorders

14. Apothecaries • More often in towns and cities • Sold and used herbs, drugs, and medicines for a variety of medical complaints • Often medicines were complex and expensive • Sometimes they worked

15. Physicians • Trained for years • Education was expensive • Tended to come from wealthy families and liked to continue their lifestyle • Usually treated urban, wealthy patients • Had little contact with peasants and urban workers

16. Physicians • By the late 18th century Physicians began to experiment with new methods and techniques BUT • Stuck close to “traditional medicine”: Bloodletting and purging • Belief that illness was caused by bad blood

17. Surgeons • Made more progress than physicians • More serious study of the anatomy • More practice treating the wounded on the battlefield (learned to save patients with serious wounds and breaks by amputation and cauterizing the wound) • BUT no pain killers and no germ theory so infections were a problem

18. Midwives • Delivered the majority of the babies throughout the time period in Europe • In spite of being persecuted during the witch hunts • Most were older, widowed, experienced • Often apprenticed with an older woman • Treated other “women’s conditions” • Also were willing to treat children

19. Medical equipment • Like the forceps were available only to men • Surgeons were able to convince many women to leave their midwives an have “modern” birthing experiences (it was a lucrative business)] • Midwives were edged out • EVENTUALLY, but not yet, professional training and certification for midwives became available

20. Prior to the end of the 18th Century • Hospitals were terrible places • Nurses were old, ignorant, greedy, drunk • Infection spread rapidly…vomit and other human waste littered rooms and halls and not cleaned up • Surgeries performed in patient’s beds • Infection spread rapidly

21. Hospitals • The poor in Paris believed that hospitals were the result of a plot to kill paupers • Mental hospitals were just as bad • Treatment for mentally ill was bleeding, cold water • Violent patients were chained to walls

22. 18th century beliefs • Moonlight was the cause of madness = Lunatic • Masturbation caused: madness, acne, epilepsy and more (read your textbook!)

23. Religion • German Pietism and Methodism were reactions against the rational religions of the Enlightenment and posed a challenge to traditional established churches • German Pietism inspired a Protestant revivalism • Like Romanticism, it emphasized emotion • German Pietism also emphasized a personal relationship with God

24. German Pietism • Stressed Luther’s old belief in a priesthood of all believers • Bible reading and Bible study for all classes were stressed. • They believed in the practical power of Christian rebirth in day-to-day affairs • “Reborn” Christians were expected to live virtuous lives and come from all sectors of society

25. John Wesley and Methodism • Wesley was influenced by German Pietism • Rejected Calvinist belief in predestination • Preached to large crowds in the countryside, open fields • Charismatic, emotional, popular with the poor • Preached that all who sought salvation could be saved • Message: Hope, free will, universal salvation

26. The Jesuits • Were gone by 1773 • Most secular authorities thought that the Jesuits had amassed too much power for themselves • Maria Theresa limited their power • Joseph II abolished them in Austria • The Pope was pressured to dissolve the order • BUT they will be back!