Medicine and Rural Health Care in Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century Europe

Abstract

The rural dinlensions of health and health care renlain a relatively neglected research area. English-language general texts rarely address the subject, with few detailed studies, and a recent historiographical review suggests that this is also broadly the case for France and GelTIlany.l Although relevant and cOluparative, work on the 'tuedical enlightenment' and on public health has not directly addressed health care in the countryside.2 This paper considers changing perceptions, particularly tuedical views, of rural environtuents, populations and associated health needs, offering brief sketches of rural case examples at the provincial, county or departnlental level. The approach reflects the available secondary literature for Britain, France, Gerinany, Iny own research and that of contributing colleagues. It recognises that various national perspectives luay lead to over-generalisation and ignore significant diversity, but that local studies can be too narrow to generalise frOlUand vulnerable to the distortions of specific, even chance circumstances.