Medicine in Virginia, 1607-1699

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hughes, Thomas Proctor, 1905-

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Medicine in Virginia, 1607-1699" by Thomas Proctor Hughes is a historical account written in the mid-20th century. The work explores the evolution of medical practice in colonial Virginia, detailing the transplant of European medical theories to the New World alongside the challenges posed by native Indian medical practices. It delves into the medical conditions and diseases faced by the early settlers, thus illuminating the precarious nature of health in this fledgling colony. The opening of the book sets the stage by outlining the European medical backdrop and its influence on practices in Virginia. It describes how the pilfered medical theories from ancient authorities like Hippocrates and Galen were confronted with new realities in the constantly evolving environment of colonial Virginia. Various sections highlight the diseases that plagued the settlers, rooted in practices and understandings that often lagged behind emerging scientific knowledge. In particular, the text contrasts the traditional European approaches with the indigenous methods of healing, foreshadowing the complexities and adaptations of colonial medicine that would be explored in subsequent chapters. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Mark C. Orton and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

Notes:

Reading ease score: 53.9 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Release date is 2009-03-22