A democratic program for healing : The Raspail domestic medicine method in 1840s France

Raspail's domestic medicine method, popularized in 1840s France, has similarities with the practices of nineteenth century non-academic healers. His mass marketing of camphor as a universal treatment echoes the practices of "charlatans" and their circles. But Raspail is also very original in this history of popular care. As a scientist, a popularizer of encyclopedic knowledge and a political activist, he managed to blur traditional distinctions between science and politics and between popular and learned medicine. Raspail was a constant thorn in the side of academic institutions and professional organizations, which were struggling to gain legitimacy. His work took a political turn when he combined, within a single project, his approach to treatment and his call for democratizing medical care. Raspail's method challenged institutional norms by acknowledging the importance of the patient's contribution to the healing process, and recognizing the necessity of thwarting the occasionally deleterious effects of monopolistic medicalization.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2020

Erschienen:

2020

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:33

Enthalten in:

Science in context - 33(2020), 4 vom: 14. Dez., Seite 385-403

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Guillemain, Hervé [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

19th century
76-22-2
Camphor
Democracy - France
Domestic médicine
Historical Article
Journal Article
Popular médicine

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 02.05.2022

Date Revised 02.05.2022

published: Print

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1017/S0269889721000132

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM336209495