HIS-30101: From Sawbones to Social Hero? Doctors and medicine 1808-1886

This module will consider aspects of the social history of medicine, including the changes experienced by both medical practitioners and patients from the 1808 County Asylums Act up to the Medical Registration Amendment Act of 1886.

Intended Learning Outcomes

recognise and explain the ways in which medicine became professionalised in the nineteenth century, including changes to medical education, the proliferation of roles for formal practitioners as experts and the rise of statutory regulation. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
consider and discuss the relationship between contemporary debates about health, illness and medicine and their historical context. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
evaluate and critically assess a range of primary sources and to use them appropriately in the development of historical analysis. will be achieved by assessments: 2
practice and refine their ability to write creatively in a history of medicine context. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 3
employ genre writing to demonstrate EITHER appreciation of the complexities of historical debate OR empathy with historical figures will be achieved by assessments: 1

Study hours

20 seminar attendance, 40 seminar preparation, 20 formative exercise preparation and completion, 30 seen examination preparation and completion, 30 summative exercise preparation and completion, 10 creative writing completion

Description of Module Assessment

01: Exercise weighted 40%

Biographical review OR creative-writing exercise
This exercise may be attempted in two modes: students wishing to focus on empirical history may attempt a biographical review of 1500-2000 words (in relation to a figure of their choice who was prominent in the social history of medicine of the period, subject to the endorsement the tutor). This will entail a critical comparison of existing biographies (potentially including extant autobiographies), normally including the subject's entry in the new Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Alternatively students may attempt a creative-writing exercise of 1500-2000 words.

02: 2 Hour Exam weighted 60%

Analysis of a seen document
A variety of seen examination requiring an extended commentary of 2000-2500 words on a substantial document (for example, a pamphlet or chapter rather than a short document extract or a book-length piece). The document will be digitised and made available to students via Blackboard at least a fortnight and up to one month before the timed examination. Candidates will revise the author, content, genre, context and significance of the document. They will be permitted to take a crib sheet of revision notes, comprising a single side of A4 paper, into the examination; however, when they reach the examination room they will not have seen the specific question that they will need to address. All students will tackle the same, single question pertaining directly to the author, content, genre, context and significance of the document.

Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.