ABSTRACT

What have been the roles of charities and the state in supporting medical provision? These are issues of major relevance, as the assumptions and practices of the welfare state are increasingly thrown into doubt. This title offers a broad perspective on the relationship between charity and medicine in Western Europe, up to the advent of welfare states in the 20th century. 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. This volume 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 various forms of charity.

chapter |13 pages

INTRODUCTION

chapter 1|12 pages

IMAGINING MEDIEVAL HOSPITALS

Considerations on the cultural meaning of institutional change

chapter 2|20 pages

HEALING THE POOR: HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN RENAISSANCE

Hospitals and medical assistance in Renaissance Florence

chapter 3|17 pages

THE MOTIVATIONS OF BENEFACTORS

An overview of approaches to the study of charity

chapter 4|19 pages

‘HARDLY A HOSPITAL, BUT A CHARITY FOR PAUPER LUNATICS’?

Therapeutics at Bethlem in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries

chapter 7|20 pages

URBAN GROWTH AND MEDICAL CHARITY

Hamburg 1788–1815

chapter 8|16 pages

THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF CARING

Nursing charities, c.1830–c.1860

chapter 13|21 pages

THE ACHES OF INDUSTRY: PHILANTHROPY AND RHEUMATISM IN

Philanthropy and rheumatism in inter-war Britain