The aim of this series is to illuminate the development and impact of medicine and the biomedical sciences in the modern era. The series was founded by the late Professor John Pickstone, and its ambitions reflect his commitment to the integrated study of medicine, science and technology in their contexts. He repeatedly commented that it was a pity that the foundation discipline of the field, for which he popularized the acronym ‘HSTM’ (History of Science, Technology and Medicine) had been the history of science rather than the history of medicine. His point was that historians of science had too often focused just on scientific ideas and institutions, while historians of medicine always had to consider the understanding, management and meanings of diseases in their socio-economic, cultural, technological and political contexts. In the event, most of the books in the series dealt with medicine and the biomedical sciences, and the changed series title reflects this. However, as the new editors we share Professor Pickstone’s enthusiasm for the integrated study of medicine, science and technology, encouraging studies on biomedical science, translational medicine, clinical practice, disease histories, medical technologies, medical specialisms and health policies.
The books in this series will present medicine and biomedical science as crucial features of modern culture, analysing their economic, social and political aspects, while not neglecting their expert content and context. Our authors investigate the uses and consequences of technical knowledge, and how it shaped, and was shaped by, particular economic, social and political structures. In re-launching the Series, we hope to build on its strengths but extend its geographical range beyond Western Europe and North America. Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Modern History is intended to supply analysis and stimulate debate. All books are based on searching historical study of topics which are important, not least because they cut across conventional academic boundaries. They should appeal not just to historians, nor just to medical practitioners, scientists and engineers, but to all who are interested in the place of medicine and biomedical sciences in modern history.
More information about this series at http://www.palgrave.com/gp/series/15183
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The research that forms the basis of this book was conducted as part of a Wellcome Trust Medical Humanities Investigator Award held by Dr. Alex Mold. The project, ‘Placing the Public in Public Health: Public Health in Britain, 1948–2010’, grant number WT 100586/Z/12/Z, was based in the Centre for History in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). The project was made up initially of four strands and each was the primary responsibility of one member of the team. The strands and staff were: the place of the public in health education and health promotion (Alex Mold); health surveys, public opinion and the public’s health (Daisy Payling); chronic disease, with a focus on coronary heart disease (Peder Clark); and infectious disease, with a focus on vaccination (Gareth Millward). A fifth strand, on public health and emotion (Hannah Elizabeth), was later added to the project, but the research from this work came too late to feature in this book.
Like the project on which it is based, this book is very much a collaborative endeavour. Alex Mold took the lead in framing the book and the chapters, and the main body of the book was written together. The fact that this was a relatively smooth process is a testament to the team, but also to the support we received from a number of key individuals and institutions. Hannah Elizabeth has been this book’s best ‘critical friend’, pushing us and our work in exciting new directions. Ingrid James has supported us in making this research happen and resolved innumerable practical problems with exemplary calm. Our other colleagues in the Centre for History in Public Health, especially Virginia Berridge, Martin Gorsky, Chris Sirrs, John Manton, Hayley Brown, Erica Nelson, Janet Weston, Sue Taylor, Mateusz Zatonski, Ros Stanwell Smith and Anne Hardy have been hugely helpful, providing advice and guidance throughout the duration of the project. We were also supported by our project advisory group, the members of which included Professor David Evans from the University of the West of England; Professor Sally Sheard from the University of Liverpool; the archives team at the LSHTM and Erin Lafferty, the School’s Public Engagement Coordinator.
Away from the LSHTM, we are grateful to the audiences at the conferences and seminars where members of the team spoke about this research. There are too many to list in detail here, but special thanks to audiences at the Society for the Social History of Medicine conferences in Oxford, Kent and Liverpool; the European Association for the History of Medicine and Health conference at Lisbon and Bucharest; and the meetings of the NHS ‘tribe’ of Wellcome funded projects on similar topics at the universities of Warwick and Liverpool. These meetings were particularly helpful in enabling us to speak to researchers working on similar themes but in different places and contexts.
Archives and libraries remain essential to the work of the contemporary historian. We would like to thank the staff at the National Archives, the British Library, the Wellcome Library and Archives and the library and archives staff at the LSHTM.
We are grateful to the history publishing team at Palgrave, especially Molly Beck and also to Tom Crook who provided insightful comments on the manuscript.
All of us have been supported by family and friends during the research and writing of this book. There are simply too many people to name—but you know who you are!
Finally, we would like to thank the Wellcome Trust, not only for the grant that allowed this research to happen, but also for being a supportive funder throughout the research process.