Rural Medical Care in England 1800 - 1850s

[Gambrill]

Does anyone know what medical care (if any) would have been available to the Ag Lab population in rural villages of England in the 1800 to 1850 era?

Was there likely to have been a "doctor" in the closest market town who would make emergency horse and buggy trips to a village 3-4 miles away, for say a serious farming accident, or a difficult child birth? Who would pay?

Also, what about less serious sickness - was there typically a local person who had "remedies" ?

John G

[Jan1954]

In the village where one branch of my ancestors lived, there was a local woman who was around for many of the births of children. She also took responsibility for registering a fair number of them, as well as laying out bodies and registering deaths. It seems that she was looked upon as the local "nurse". However, even when my great grandfather fell off his cart in 1923 after the horse bolted, the doctor had to be "sent for" and did not turn up until lunchtime. GGF had the accident at about 8:00am and died 2 days later from his injuries. This was in the same area.

A local history book of the area in question may prove enlightening - are you enquiring of anywhere in particular?

Also, First Aid and Home Nursing, although covering the late 19th and early 20th centuries, looks to be an interesting read.

[Colin Moretti]

The parish was obliged to care for the sick paupers

Virtually all workhouses had a small infirmary room or block for the care of sick inmates. Poor Law unions were also obliged to employ one or more suitably qualified medical officers to minister to the union's sick poor, both inside and outside the workhouse.

see the Workhouses website for more details. The workhouse sick ward was often the place of death for many of our ancestors too, not just the paupers.

Colin