Fatal Thirst: Diabetes in Britain Until InsulinAlthough ancient and medieval doctors knew of the disorder called diabetes, the disease they treated was rare and largely confined to young sufferers. By the late Renaissance, however, the increasing incidence of diabetes in older adults required a re-examination of what caused the malady and how to cure it. Led by English healers, such as controversial apothecary Nicholas Culpeper and elite physician Thomas Willis, the study of diabetes produced significant debate in print over the locus of the disease and remedies for its treatment. These debates paralleled the growing schism in English medical circles over contradictory iatric theories and professional jurisdiction. On the eve of insulin's discovery, diabetologists still quarrelled over what diets might alleviate its symptoms. Including perspectives from patients and drawing on myriad sources, this book examines changing approaches to diabetes and its victims within the context of medical and scientific progress. |
Contents
The Biography of a Disease and Its Sufferers | 1 |
The Early History of Diabetes from Classical Times to the Renaissance Diagnoses and Descriptions | 13 |
Renaissance Diabetics and Their Doctors Changing Treatments for Revolutionary Times | 39 |
Early Modern Medicine in Print and Diabetes Published Advice and Imagery | 61 |
Diabetes and SeventeenthCentury Medical Controversy | 81 |
Reconstructing Diabetic Life in Early Modern England | 101 |
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Common terms and phrases
advice almanacs animal appeared argued associated astrological Banting became Best blood body Britain British called Cambridge cause century Charles chemical claimed clinical College of Physicians condition Culpeper Culpeper’s cure death developed Diabetes Mellitus diet different disease disorder doctors drink Early Modern Edinburgh edited effects England English excessive experiments Family first followed four Galen given glucose healers Henry History Hospital humoral insulin James John Journal kidneys later Latin lives London Medicine Medieval method nature needed noted Observations Oxford pancreas Paracelsus patients physicians Physick popular practice prescribed printed problems produced published recorded regimens remedies Renaissance Robert Royal Science sick Society specific sufferers sugar sweet Sydenham symptoms texts therapies thirst Thomas tion translated treated treatment Type Type 1 diabetics University Press urine Willis writings wrote York