Abstract
For centuries, Western medicine has developed and flourished in the urban city of London, changing the dynamic between the practice and focus of medicine. This study aims to understand and compare the medical practices in London before and after the introduction of Paris medicine, examining the contributions Paris medicine made to create the “after” medical practices in London. Specifically, in the early 1800s, clinical medicine in London was profoundly affected by Paris medicine, a branch of clinical medicine that flourished in France in the late 1700s and early 1800s, leading to the innovation of medical practices currently in use today. Specifically, Paris medicine has been attributed to the development of the medical “gaze,” which was the point when doctors began to rely more on their own observations versus patients’ descriptions. It is also during the era of Paris medicine that medicine in London became more clinical and hospital-based, shifting from the private practice field. Paris medicine also led to new methods of treatment and diagnosis, such as the stethoscope, psychological evaluation, and the routine use of autopsies. Because of the influences of Paris medicine, practitioners in London became more clinically focused, fostering the rise of medical specialties, modern patient care, and public health.
Faculty Sponsors
Edwin Stieve, Ph.D.
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-10-2015 1:00 PM
End Date
4-10-2015 5:30 PM
Shifting Londoner Medical Practices in the Early 1800s: The Influence of Paris Medicine
Alvin Sherman Library
For centuries, Western medicine has developed and flourished in the urban city of London, changing the dynamic between the practice and focus of medicine. This study aims to understand and compare the medical practices in London before and after the introduction of Paris medicine, examining the contributions Paris medicine made to create the “after” medical practices in London. Specifically, in the early 1800s, clinical medicine in London was profoundly affected by Paris medicine, a branch of clinical medicine that flourished in France in the late 1700s and early 1800s, leading to the innovation of medical practices currently in use today. Specifically, Paris medicine has been attributed to the development of the medical “gaze,” which was the point when doctors began to rely more on their own observations versus patients’ descriptions. It is also during the era of Paris medicine that medicine in London became more clinical and hospital-based, shifting from the private practice field. Paris medicine also led to new methods of treatment and diagnosis, such as the stethoscope, psychological evaluation, and the routine use of autopsies. Because of the influences of Paris medicine, practitioners in London became more clinically focused, fostering the rise of medical specialties, modern patient care, and public health.
