![]() In the case of the early modern English aristocracy, birth and child mortality rates were high, largely driven by the longstanding tradition of using wet nurses and other servants to care for children. A quarter of all babies, whether born into wealth or poverty, died before their second birthdays. ![]() Some problems, such as infant death, cut across class lines. Infectious diseases may have been more common among the poor, but they could still torment the wealthy. In the case of coughing, the Lylye states: “Poor men are much afflicted with this condition.” The suggested cure for coughing in a poor person is breath control exercises, such as: “let him hold his breath often as much as it is possible” or “blow the fire often.” These treatments, although affordable, were perhaps not that effective. Coughing and lice were conditions associated with poverty. The valuable ambergris was again recommended for a rich person suffering from stomach pain/vomiting, while a poor person was limited to standard, readily available ingredients, such as mint. For instance, in the case of leprosy (or various skin conditions with the characteristics of leprosy), a rich person was offered electuaries (a medicinal substance mixed with honey or another sweet substance) made with pearls ( diamarciaton) or ambergris ( diambre), while a poor person received electuaries made with rosemary ( dianthos) or aloes ( dianisum). ![]() A rich person was provided with a range of options and expensive medications. Furthermore, these chronic conditions were considered next to impossible to cure and difficult to treat, except with a diverse plan of remedies and ingredients. It is not surprising that differences in treatment are mentioned for chronic conditions, such as epilepsy and leprosy, where the ability to afford long-term treatment becomes problematic for a low-income person. It is interesting that although different treatments are not provided for every illness, those in which differences are noted are often summarised into two categories: chronic conditions, and diseases associated with poverty. The Lylye of Medicynes is a significant 15th century Middle English translation of a Latin medical text, the Lilium Medicinae, written in the early 14th century by Bernard de Gordon (1270–1330), a highly respected medical doctor and lecturer in the medical school of Montpellier.
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