The Religion of Health. A Lecture. Second Edition.

BLACKWELL, Dr. Elizabeth

Verlag: London: S. W. Partridge and Co., 9 Paternoster Row, no date.

31, [1] pp. Original wrappers. Roughness to vertical fore edge of pages, else Near Fine. Second Edition. Printed On the inside of the rear wrapper: "A HEALTH SOCIETY is now being formed for the purpose of carrying on a general and systematic diffusion of sanitary knowledge. All those who are desirous of assisting in this work are invited to communicate (by letter) with Dr. E. Blackwell, 6 Burwood-place, Hyde-park W." In her autobiography, Elizabeth Blackwell writes about this lecture: "On February 19, 1871, under the auspices of the Sunday Lecture Society, I gave an address, 'On the Religion of Health,' to a large appreciative audience in St. George's Hall. The same year a small meeting was held in the drawing-room of 6 Burwood Place, to consider the important subject of a steady and wide diffusion of sanitary knowledge among all the people. There 'The National Health Society' was formed, for which Mr. Prout Newcombe (who was present) shaped the stamp of the society, with its motto, 'Prevention is better than cure'." (Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to Women, p. 247). OCLC records this 1871 imprint of the lecture: "On the Religion of Health: A Lecture Delivered before the Sunday Lecture Society, February 19, 1871" London: Office of "The Examiner", 1871 (34 pp; OCLC locates only 2 copies of that imprint). The date of 1869 is sometimes attributed to the London: S. W. Partridge and Co., second edition, offered here. That is clearly incorrect. The earliest possible date could be 1871, and my guess is that it was available in 1871. OCLC locates copies in these US libraries: Boston Public Library, UCLA, Columbia, Huntington, Library Co. of Philadelphia, Minnesota, National Library of Medicine, Smith College, SUNY Upstate Medical University. "On May 12, 1871, an organizational meeting was held at the rooms of the Social Science Association. Among the participants were Elizabeth Blackwell, Barbara Bodichon, Anna Goldsmid, George Hastings, and Ernest Hart. . . . On July 6 a meeting was held at Elizabeth s home, at which a constitution was drawn up outlining the organization and administration of the group. One of the bylaws of the executive committee included the proviso that women would always constitute a small majority on that body. The society invented a motto, 'Prevention is better than cure', and opened offices administered by Lucy Toulmin Smith. . . . In May [1872] she participated in the National Health Society's annual conference, and was critical of the London Times for describing the group as a women's organization" (Nancy Ann Sahli, Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D. (1821-1901). A Biography, pp. 205-06 and 209). For Blackwell and the National Health Society, see also Julia Boyd, The Excellent Doctor Blackwell, pp. 234-236, and Janice P. Nimura, The Doctors Blackwell, p. 252. "The National Health Society was established in 1871 through the initiative of Elizabeth Blackwell, and as the name suggests, aimed to spread contemporary knowledge about public health. Operating under the belief that prevention is better than cure, the Society professed to diffuse a sound knowledge of the laws of health, and of the measures likely to prevent the spread of disease throughout all classes of the community. In order to achieve this end, regular lectures were given on subjects as diverse as the Prevention of epidemic disease and the Effects of modern dress on health. The common element in all lectures was their ultimate impact on the health of the population. The guests of subscribing members could attend these lectures free of charge in the hope that ladies of wealth and leisure would be inspired to spread what they learned to their own household and gradually reach the working classes. The importance of educating the lower classes was certainly recognised and eventually penny lectures were introduced to make health education more accessible.". Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 17240

Bibliografische Details

Titel: The Religion of Health. A Lecture. Second ...
Verlag: London: S. W. Partridge and Co., 9 Paternoster Row, no date.
Einband: Soft cover
Zustand: Near Fine