No one is, or ever has been, immune to illnesses. Day to day life brings one in contact with billions of bacteria ready to invade and conquer the human body. Medical practitioners of colonial times did not possess the technology to study these pathogens, therefore dismissed them as harmless because of their size. Because of this inaccuracy eighteenth century doctors did not fully understand what caused illnesses, and could alleviate symptoms, but could not exterminate the disease. Also due to lack of knowledge and technology herbs were the only medication available, and the surgeries that were performed were simple.
Depending on a person’s monetary value, they would either visit a doctor or utilize herbal treatments. Doctors often prescribed medicines, made from imported ingredients, that could be purchased at the apothecary shop. The people that belonged to the lower class or lived a long way from town would use herbal remedies. Due to lack of knowledge some minor afflictions, such as teething, earaches, broken bones, or small pox, often lead to death in children. Though there were treatments for many afflictions the strength and determination of the patient was often the concluding factor on survival.
Many of the herbal medicines that were used during colonial times are still in use today. Digitalis, otherwise known as foxgloves, was used to treat dropsy, which is associated with heart failure. Today digitalis is used as a cardiac stimulant. Cinchona, a tree that yields quinine, was used for malaria. Chalk, which is found in modern antacids, was used for indigestion. Glyceriacan, which is derived from licorice roots, is a common ingredient in cough drops. During colonial times licorice root was used to treat a sore throat.
With the exception of insane asylums there were no hospitals during colonial times. This meant that treatments, including surgeries, had to be performed at the patient’s home. Only common, simple surgeries were performed. These procedures included amputations, mastectomies, tracheotomies, cataract removal, tonsillectomies, and bladder removal. Most surgeries were completed, rather hastily, in two minutes to prevent massive blood loss. Lacking the fear of germs, eighteenth century surgeries were not performed under the same stringent conditions that modern procedures are. The implements used were cleaned, but not sterilized.
Although doctors of the eighteenth century knew of effective methods to ease the symptoms of an illness, they did not possess the knowledge to cure diseases or perform complicated surgical procedures. Cures and vaccines were not spoken of during the eighteenth century. Due to the fact that doctors did not fully understand germs and bacteria they could only give relief from the diseases that accompany often diseases.
