Health & disease in Britain - Charlotte A Roberts

This work traces the history of health and disease and the evidence for care and treatment through time in Britain using primary and secondary evidence. Chapters cover Palaeolithic times to the 20th century. Inevitably, the prehistoric period, because of the lack of skeletal material excavated, is shorter than later periods. However, because more is known archaeologically about these epochs, where the skeletal evidence is lacking suggestions are made regarding health and disease in those times. As one moves into the British Historic period, recovered skeletal material is more plentiful and contemporary documentary and art evidence becomes available. Key cultural landmarks in our history are integrated with the biological data on health such as the transition to agriculture from hunting and gathering, the discovery of metals and the development of urban centres. The chapter on 20th century health and disease considers what are currently accepted to be major health problems today, how they are being tackled and how things stand for the future.