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John Wesley's Primitive Physic (1747) achieved twenty-three editions in his lifetime, ensuring its popular and controversial status in eighteenth-century medicine. This is the first full-length study to examine the theological, intellectual and cultural background to one of the period's most successful medical texts. By exploring Wesley's work in the context of his theology, 'A Cheap, Safe and Natural Medicine' extends the on-going reconfiguration of the relationship between religion and medicine. Wesley was on a theological mission to recover the primitive purity of the first Christians. Yet the remedies contained within Primitive Physic suggest a pragmatic thinker, whose concern for spiritual health did not prevent him from providing practical assistance to those who needed it. The evolution of Wesley's thinking also demonstrates some of the struggles he faced as leader of the Methodist movement, such as the way he handled contemporary criticism of Primitive Physic when religious 'enthusiasm' was often conflated with medical 'quackery'. 'A Cheap, Safe and Natural Medicine' will be of interest not only to medical and literary historians, but to anyone who is interested in the way religion influences medicine. Contents** Preface** Acknowledgements** Part I: The Medical Holism of Primitive Physic** 1 Introduction: Primitive Physic Explain'd in an Easy and Natural Method** 2 John Wesley's Hermeneutics of Primitive Christianity and Practical Piety** 3 Experience and the Common Interest of Mankind: Physic, an Art or Science in Eighteenth-Century England?** 4 Preserving Health, or a Few Plain and Easy Rules** Part II: Primitive Physic: 'A Collection of Receipts'** 5 Primitive Physic: Cheap, Safe and Natural Medicine for Health and Long Life** 6 Conclusion: The Search for Pristine Purity** Bibliography** Index**
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‘A CHEAP, SAFE AND NATURAL MEDICINE’ RELIGION, MEDICINE AND CULTURE IN JOHN WESLEY’S PRIMITIVE PHYSIC
THE WELLCOME SERIES IN THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE Forthcoming : Attending Madness: A History of Work in the Victorian Asylum Lee-Ann Monk The Wellcome Series in the History of Medicine series editors are V. Nutton, M. Neve and R. Cooter. Please send all queries regarding the series to Michael Laycock, The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, UK.
‘A CHEAP, SAFE AND NATURAL MEDICINE’ RELIGION, MEDICINE AND CULTURE IN JOHN WESLEY’S PRIMITIVE PHYSIC Deborah Madden
Amsterdam – New York, NY 2007
First published in 2007 by Editions Rodopi B. V., Amsterdam – New York, NY 2007. Editions Rodopi B.V. © 2007 Design and Typesetting by Michael Laycock, The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL. Printed and bound in The Netherlands by Editions Rodopi B.V., Amsterdam – New York, NY 2007. Index by Rosemary Anderson. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978-90-420-2274-4 ‘“A Cheap, Safe and Natural Medicine” Religion, Medicine and Culture in John Wesley’s Primitive Physic’ – Amsterdam – New York, NY: Rodopi. – ill. (Clio Medica 83 / ISSN 0045-7183; The Wellcome Series in the History of Medicine)
Front cover: John Wesley. Mezzotint by J. Faber, junior, 1743, after J. Williams. Courtesy: Wellcome Library, London. Digitally coloured, 2007. © Editions Rodopi B. V., Amsterdam – New York, NY 2007 Printed in The Netherlands All titles in the Clio Medica series (from 1999 onwards) a