Early physicians

The Early Modern Age saw advances in theory, but not in practice. The most advanced Early Modern physicians were usually town-based, and also:

• were well educated and trained
• did 'scientific' research
• were prepared to contradict the accepted authority
• disseminated their findings
• relied on royal support
• had limited success

However, they charged very high fees and only the richest people could afford them.

16th-century woodcut, depicting (right) medical treatment of a skin disease and (left) blood letting, by barber surgeons in a barber shop

The medicine available to ordinary people relied on the amount they could afford. The people they turned to for medical advice included:

• country doctors - lower fees than town doctors, but not well-trained
• barber-surgeons - who were paid to perform small operations
• apothecaries (chemists) - no medical training, but sold medicines and groceries
• quacks - travelling barbers, tooth-pullers, who sold medicines which were supposed to cure everything
• wise women, neighbours and local 'witches'