Starter activity: brainstorm the times when you were ill when you were a child. What did your carers say to you in connection with your illness? What are your memories of your first trip to the doctors, to hospitals? What language did people use to describe your illnesses etc? What did they say to comfort you?
Learning Objective: to learn how and why the discourses about health have changed over time.
This advertisement for a London Quack doctor dates back to 1650. The doctor, who lived in Gun-Powder Alley, claimed to be able to predict the future, answering questions on a range of subjects from marriage and riches to fertility and professional success. He could also tell patients whether their ‘sicknesse be curable or mortall’, and had ‘ready prepared the most approved remedies for all diseases…that are curable.’
Taken from: Quack Doctors’ Advertisement “Without Offense…”
Author / Creator: Unknown
Date: 1650
Copyright: © The British Library Board
Advertisement for a Quack Doctor
Without offence to the Lawes of God and
Man: onely by Mathematicall Arts and Naturall Sci-
ences: A certaine true and probable Answer may be
given to any lawfull demaund whatsoever, as by the testimoney of the
Learned among all Nations, and in all ages, and innumeralbe Examples
of our owne experience have invincibly confirmed.
3 Of the Complexion of the body: and the Inclination of th eminde.
2 Of Riches, and pverty, how, and when they shall happen.
3 Of Marriage, the number, quality, time and place.
4 Of Children, if few, or many, their sexe and disposition.
5 Of Travailes, the time, the part of the World, and the evenet.
6 Of the Profession, Trade and manner of life.
7 Of Dignity grace, and disgrace, and from whom.
8 Of Friends and Enemies, and th eevent of their love or hatred.
9 Whether any that is Absent be alive? how? and where?
10 Whether any shall have riches, and at what time?
11 Whether a Partner of Factor be just and faithfull?
12 Whether a Man shall marry that Woman he desireth?
13 Whether a Woman be apt to have Children?
‘Five Minutes Advice on the Bath Waters’ was first published in 1843. The book discusses the restorative effects of drinking and bathing in Bath mineral waters. The author states in the preface that many of the advantages of Bath waters can be experienced in the home, if the right products are purchased. This means that patients may avoid ‘the annoyance and expense attendant upon distant travelling, frequently so prejudicial to persons in delicate health.’ The book also contains an array of advertisements for various potions and pills.
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