You can find out why, and learn about the range of healthcare options available to people in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, in Elaine Leong’s article ‘Sickness, salves and skillets’ in the January 2010 issue of BBC History Magazine (also available to listen to as a podcast interview).To explore recipes and remedies further, go to Warwick University’s new Recipes, Remedies, Receipts website for contextual articles and links to online resources (including the Wellcome Library’s fine collection of 16th-19th century recipe manuscripts), plus the chance to share information on your own pre-modern recipe collection, if you are lucky enough to own one! The website is continually being updated, so keep checking back for new articles, links and events.
