Hacia una historiografía de la enfermedad: Prácticas, profesiones y enfermos

Abstract

The article considers the development of the history of medicine since its institutionalization, in 19th century Europe. The historiographical tendencies that conditioned this development of the branch of learning are analysed. The precedents of medical historiography in Spain are also examined. At the beginning, the History of Medicine directed studies towards scientific discovery and accentuated the idea of progress. This helped to shape the profession and to show the difference between the physician and the non-physician. Early on, analysis of the social aspects of medicine and public health was also begun. Nowadays the History of Medicine reflects on the historical aspects of health as a particular part of history within the framework of general history. It shares general historiographical tendencies and is always open to the world of the history of scientific ideas and of techniques, cultures, society and the experience of illness.

Keywords

• historiografía de la ciencia
• historia de la medicina siglos xix-xx