In American Physicians in the Nineteenth Century, William G. Rothstein sombines sociological with historical analysis to explain the devlopment of the medical profession in nineteenth-century America. After describing how medicine first became a full-time vocation early in the nineteenth century, Rothstein examines the founding of medical schools and societies, regulatory efforts, and the development of "heroic medicine" as the accepted form of medical practice. But widespread public opposition to heroic medicine soon led to the rise of rival sets such as the botanics, who were popular among the rural population, and the homeopaths, who appealed to the urban upper classes. Excluded from the regular ranks of the medical profession, both sects organized their own schools and professional societies. As Rothstein explains, it was the advent of scientific medicine, with its breakthroughs in surgery and other medical specialties, public health, and bacteriology, that put an end to medical sectarianiam and commercialism. The new laboratory science could at last prove-or disprove-the theories and practices of the major sects.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
[According to a survey of medical historians] the most important book of the past decade was William G. Rothstein's American Physicians in the Nineteenth Century. Reviews in American History Rothstein's approach is significantly different from the traditional one... he has produced a useful and stimulating work. British Journal of the History of Science A very readable book that will be of value to anyone interested in nineteenth-century medicine. Taken with the existing works on the majors sects, Professor Rothstein has made a significant contribution to the field of medical history. Journal of the History of Medicine
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Für Beruf und Forschung
Produkt-Hinweis
Maße
Höhe: 229 mm
Breite: 152 mm
Dicke: 23 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-0-8018-4427-0 (9780801844270)
DOI
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
William G. Rothstein is professor of sociology at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Preface to the 1992 edition
Preface
Part I. Method of Analysis and Colonial Antecedents
Chapter 1. Plan of Analysis
Chapter 2. Prologue: The Colonial Period
Part II. The Regular Profession in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century
Chapter 3. Medical Practice Among Physicians
Chapter 4. Medical Societies and Medical Licensing
Chapter 5. Medical Education
Chapter 6. Relations Between Medical Schools and Medical Societies
Part III. The Rebellion Against the Regular Medical Profession
Chapter 7. The Thomsonian Movement
Chapter 8. The Rise of Homeopathy
Part IV. The Institutionalization of Medical Sects
Chapter 9. The Therapeutics of the Regular Sect After the Civil War
Chapter 10. Stratification and Specialization in the Regular Medical Profession After the Civil War
Chapter 11. The Eclectic Sect: Successor to Botanical Medicine
Chapter 12. The Homeopathic Sect
Part V. The Rise of Scientific Medicine
Chapter 13. The Beginnings of Scientific Medicine: Surgery
Chapter 14. Bacteriology and the Medical Profession
Chapter 15. Developments in Medical Education After the Civil War
Chapter 16. The Death of Sectarian Medicine
Appendix I. Founding Dates of Important Local and State Regular Medical Societies in Selected States Before the Civil War
Appendix II. Medical Licensing Legislation in Selected States Before the Civil War
Appendix III. Sources of Citations Given in Appendices I and II
Appendix IV. Enumerations of Physicians, 185901900
Index
