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Medical revolutions? The growth of medicine in England, 1660-1800

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  • Pirohakul, Teerapa
  • Wallis, Patrick

Abstract

This paper studies demand for commercial medical assistance in early modern England. We measure individual consumption of medical and nursing services using a new dataset of debts at death between c.1670-c.1790. Levels of consumption of medical services were high and stable in London from the 1680s. However, we find rapid growth in the provinces, in both the likelihood of using medical assistance, and the sums spent on it. The structure of medical services also shifted, with an increase in ‘general practice’, particularly by apothecaries. The expansion in medical services diffused from London, and was motivated by changing preferences, not wealth

Suggested Citation

  • Pirohakul, Teerapa & Wallis, Patrick, 2014. "Medical revolutions? The growth of medicine in England, 1660-1800," Economic History Working Papers 56053, London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Economic History.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:wpaper:56053
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    File URL: https://researchonline.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/56053/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stephen Broadberry & Bruce Campbell & Alexander Klein & Mark Overton & Bas van Leeuwen, 2012. "British Economic Growth, 1270-1870: an output-based approach," Studies in Economics 1203, School of Economics, University of Kent.
    2. Broadberry, Stephen & Campbell, Bruce & Klein, Alexander & Overton, Mark & Van Leeuwen, Bas., 2010. "English Economic Growth: 1270 - 1870," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 35, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
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    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I19 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Other
    • N30 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology

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