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MEDICINE, KNOWLEDGE
AND VENEREAL DISEASES IN
ENGLAND, 1886–1916
ANNE R. HANLEY
Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
in Modern History
Series Editors
Carsten Timmermann
University of Manchester
United Kingdom
Michael Worboys
University of Manchester
United Kingdom
Aim of the series
The aim of this series is to illuminate the development and impact of
medicine and the biomedical sciences in the modern era. The series was
founded by the late Professor John Pickstone, and its ambitions refl ect his
commitment to the integrated study of medicine, science and t echnology
in their contexts. He repeatedly commented that it was a pity that the
foundation discipline of the fi eld, for which he popularized the acronym
‘HSTM’ (History of Science, Technology and Medicine) had been the his-
tory of science rather than the history of medicine. His point was that
historians of science had too often focused just on scientifi c ideas and insti-
tutions, while historians of medicine always had to consider the under-
standing, management and meanings of diseases in their socio-e conomic,
cultural, technological and political contexts. In the event, most of the
books in the series dealt with medicine and the biomedical sciences, and
the changed series title refl ects this. However, as the new editors we share
Professor Pickstone’s enthusiasm for the integrated study of medicine, sci-
ence and technology, encouraging studies on biomedical science, transla-
tional medicine, clinical practice, disease histories, medical technologies,
medical specialisms and health policies. The books in this series will pres-
ent medicine and biomedical science as crucial features of modern culture,
analysing their economic, social and political aspects, while not neglect-
ing their expert content and context. Our authors investigate the uses and
consequences of technical knowledge, and how it shaped, and was shaped
by, particular economic, social and political structures. In re-l aunching the
Series, we hope to build on its strengths but extend its geographical range
beyond Western Europe and North America. M edicine and Biomedical
Sciences in Modern History is intended to supply analysis and stimulate
debate. All books are based on searching historical study of topics which
are important, not least because they cut across conventional academic
boundaries. They should appeal not just to historians, nor just to medical
practitioners, s cientists and engineers, but to all who are interested in the
place of m edicine and biomedical sciences in modern history.
More information about this series at
http://www.springer.com/series/15183
Anne R. Hanley
Medicine, Knowledge
and Venereal Diseases
in England,
1886–1916
Anne R. Hanley
University of Oxford
Oxford , UK
Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Modern History
ISBN 978-3-319-32454-8 ISBN 978-3-319-32455-5 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-32455-5
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016948426
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2 017
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the
Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifi cally the rights of
translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on
microfi lms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval,
electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now
known or hereafter developed.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this
publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specifi c statement, that such names are
exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information
in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the
publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to
the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made.
Cover illustrations: Coloured Illustration of the profi le of a face diseased with syphilis, 1898,
© VintageMedStock / Alamy Stock Photo
Printed on acid-free paper
This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by Springer Nature
The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland
The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
For my parents
A
CKNOWLEDGEMENTS
When you spend your days researching the history of syphilis and gon-
orrhoea, it must come as no surprise that you are asked many curious
questions and fi nd yourself having the most extraordinary conversations.
Although writing this book has felt at times like a solitary occupation,
many people were instrumental in its completion. First and foremost were
my doctoral supervisors, Simon Szreter and John Forrester, who provided
so much valuable academic support and advice. Thank you to my doctoral
examiners, Michael Worboys and Gayle Davis, for their invaluable com-
ments and advice on transforming it into a respectable manuscript. Many
thanks also to the anonymous reviewer for their feedback and suggestions
and to Claire Jones for her comments on C hapter 6.
The lively scholarly communities in the Faculty of History and the
Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of
Cambridge provided important opportunities for discussion and feedback
on early chapter drafts. The Centre for History and Philosophy of Science
at the University of Leeds also offered invaluable academic support dur-
ing my time as a Visiting Research Fellow. Special thanks go to Graeme
Gooday for his mentoring and advice on the book proposal. I am also very
grateful to New College, University of Oxford for providing an academi-
cally rigorous space in which to complete this book.
Thank you to the Cambridge Commonwealth and International Trust,
and the New College Ludwig Humanities Research Fund, without whose
fi nancial assistance this book could not have been completed. Material in
Chapter 2 is reprinted from ‘Venereology at the Polyclinic: Postgraduate
Medical Education among General Practitioners in England, 1899–1914’
vii
viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(2015), with permission from M edical History (Cambridge University
Press). M aterial in Chapter 6 is reprinted from ‘“Scientifi c Truth into
Homely Language”: The Training and Practice of Midwives in Ophthalmia
Neonatorum, 1895–1914’ (2014), with permission from S ocial History of
Medicine (Oxford University Press). Thank you to both journals. I am
also grateful for the permissions granted to reproduce material held by the
Journal of Laryngology and Otology ; the Bodleian Library, University of
Oxford; Cambridge University Library; the Thackray Medical Museum,
Leeds; and the London Metropolitan Archives, City of London.
I could not have completed this book without the friendship and
encouragement of Laura, Coreen, Clare, Paul, Matthew, Kiara, Konstantin,
Becky and Sean. My sincere thanks also to Lloyd, for his love, pedantry
and meticulo o s proofreading. Finally, thank you to my parents, Patricia
and Alastair, and my cousin Leah for their constant love and support and
for always humouring my strange fascination with venereal diseases.
C
ONTENTS
1 Introduction 1
2 Training Competent Generalists 2 5
3 Postgraduate Specialism 6 3
4 Under the Microscope 1 07
5 Clinical Practice and Patient Care 1 47
6 Nursing Knowledge 1 89
7 Midwifery and Ophthalmia Neonatorum 223
8 Conclusions 265
Select Bibliography 277
Index 301
ix
A
BBREVIATIONS
BJN B ritish Journal of Nursing
BMA B ritish Medical Association
BMJ B ritish Medical Journal
CD Acts Contagious Diseases Acts
CMB C entral Midwives Board
CPL L ondon County Council’s Pathological Laboratory at Claybury
Asylum
DCMA Departmental Committee to Consider the Working of the Midwives
Act
DCSBC D epartmental Committee on Sickness Benefi t Claims Under the
National Insurance Act
DCSPW D epartmental Committee on Nursing the Sick Poor in Workhouses
DPH D iploma in Public Health
GMC G eneral Medical Council
GPI General Paralysis of the Insane
IDNA I nfectious Disease (Notifi cation) Act
LCC L ondon County Council
LGB L ocal Government Board
LPC L ondon Postgraduate Course
LSA L ocal Supervising Authority
LSTM L ondon School of Tropical Medicine
MGC M edical Graduates’ College and Polyclinic
MOH M edical Offi cer of Health
NCCVD N ational Council for Combatting Venereal Diseases
NHI N ational Health Insurance Act
PDC I nterdepartmental Committee on Physical Deterioration
RAMC Royal Army Medical Corps
xi
Description:This book reveals the ever-present challenges of patient care at the forefront of medical knowledge. Syphilis and gonorrhoea played upon the public imagination in Victorian and Edwardian England, inspiring fascination and fear. Seemingly inextricable from the other great 'social evil', prostitution,
