Health Choices
In Victorian times, disease affected everyone at some point in their lives. There were as many treatments as there were theories about the causes of illness. In Health Choices you can investigate some of the cures on offer in 1842. Who would the people of Leeds have turned to for help? How would they have decided which cure to try?
Before the National Health Service was set up in 1948, people’s health choices depended on what they could afford. Real cures were rare and the public saw little difference between qualified doctors and unqualified ‘quack’ healers.
Before 1913 doctors made and prescribed their own medicines, but chemists and druggists also prepared and sold remedies in their shops.
Some wealthy people kept their own medicine chests, like the one on display belonging to Prince Albert. Poor people relied on ‘patent’ medicines, which were more affordable than seeing a doctor. They were produced by private companies and sold in their millions. Manufacturers spent huge sums on advertising that claimed they could cure almost anything!
Before the 1900s doctors often recommended strong laxatives or ‘purges’ to cure illness. These were thought to remove the poisons that caused the disease. Drinking or bathing in spring and seawater were also popular treatments for all kinds of illness.
With all these choices on offer, what will you do? Would you rather see a doctor or get a chemist to make you some medicine? Do you believe the adverts for patent cures? Find out if you make the right choice in this fantastic exhibition!
