The Enlightenment of Thomas Beddoes - Science, medicine, and reform (Paperback)

Thomas Beddoes (1760-1808) lived in 'decidedly interesting times' in which established orders in politics and science were challenged by revolutionary new ideas. Enthusiastically participating in the heady atmosphere of Enlightenment debate, Beddoes' career suffered from his radical views on politics and science. Denied a professorship at Oxford, he set up a medical practice in Bristol in 1793. Six years later - with support from a range of leading industrialists and scientists including the Wedgwoods, Erasmus Darwin, James Watt, James Keir and others associated with the Lunar Society - he established a Pneumatic Institution for investigating the therapeutic effects of breathing different kinds of 'air' on a wide spectrum of diseases. The treatment of the poor, gratis, was an important part of the Pneumatic Institution and Beddoes, who had long concerned himself with their moral and material well-being, published numerous pamphlets and small books about their education, wretched material circumstances, proper nutrition, and the importance of affordable medical facilities. Beddoes' democratic political concerns reinforced his belief that chemistry and medicine should co-operate to ameliorate the conditions of the poor. But those concerns also polarized the medical profession and the wider community of academic chemists and physicians, many of whom became mistrustful of Beddoes' projects due to his radical politics. Highlighting the breadth of Beddoes' concerns in politics, chemistry, medicine, geology, and education (including the use of toys and models), this book reveals how his reforming and radical zeal were exemplified in every aspect of his public and professional life, and made for a remarkably coherent program of change. He was frequently a contrarian, but not without cause, as becomes apparent once he is viewed in the round, as part of the response to the politics and social pressures of the late Enlightenment.

General

Imprint:	Routledge
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Series:	Science, Technology and Culture, 1700-1945
Release date:	June 2018
First published:	2017
Authors:	Trevor Levere • Larry Stewart • Hugh Torrens • Joseph Wachelder
Dimensions:	234 x 156 x 25mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
ISBN-13:	978-1-138-32998-0
Categories:	Books > Science & Mathematics > Science: general issues > History of science Books > Humanities > History > World history > 1750 to 1900 Books > History > World history > 1750 to 1900
LSN:	1-138-32998-3
Barcode:	9781138329980

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!