Women and the Practice of Medical Care in early Modern Europe 1400 - 1800

Women have been engaged in well-being, care-giving, and healing, often within the context of the home, since earliest times. In this book, Leigh Whaley studies the role, contributions, and challenges faced by women healers in Early Modern Europe, c.1400-1800. With a focus on the countries of France, Spain, Italy and England, she includes the role of medical practice among women in the Jewish and Muslim communities.  Providing an introduction to the work performed by various kinds of female medical practitioners, healers and writers, the book also considers the various attitudes towards the woman healer and stresses the importance of gender in the healing arts.