Handwerkschirurgen: Sozialgeschichte einer verdrängten Berufsgruppe

In this respect Professor Andrew is admirably sensitive to the impact of ideology and thus to generational shifts in the mood and direction of giving.* Around 1700, much hope was invested in putting the poor to work, and money was pumped into workshops and charity schools for that end. By the 1750s, with Britain committed to vast imperial wars, nurturing manpower (and womanpower) had assumed far greater priority, and healthand child-oriented foundations mushroomed. By the last decades of the century, and with the development of the political economy mentality, "dependency" and even over-population were surfacing as problems. Hence institutions such as the Foundling Hospital received less favour, and attention was directed into schemes for inculcating thrift, industry, and sobriety, and for the general moralization of the masses. This chronology is largely convincing, though in the light of it one would have liked to see some attention given to fluctuations in hospital and dispensary donations. Indeed, medical charities receive less attention throughout this book than they would seem to warrant. Professor Andrew is skilful in her handling of often slender sources (as she admits, the public records of Georgian charities leave much to be desired). Further progress in understanding the social functions of giving will depend upon exploring the networks of philanthropic gentlemen and ladies, and merchants and their activities. Above all, the party politics of charity need investigation. I look forward to further studies from this author on the complex intertwinings of philanthropy, physic, and police.