This Element examines the emergence of comprehensive plague management systems in early modern France, which were established centuries earlier due to the actions of urban governments. It moves away from a medical focus to examine the institutions that managed disease control, providing a wider context to understand the systems used in Provence in the 1720s.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 84 pages
Publication date: 25 April 2024
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This Element delves into the emergence of comprehensive plague management systems in early modern France. While the historiography on plague suggests that the plague of Provence in the 1720s marked the development of a novel and modern form of public health care under the control of the absolutist monarchy, it reveals that the fundamental components of this system were established centuries earlier due to the actions of urban governments. It shifts its focus away from a medical perspective on plague to examine the institutions responsible for managing disease control in early modern France. By doing so, it aims to provide a broader context of French plague care to enhance our understanding of the systems employed in Provence during the 1720s. It demonstrates that the French developed a polycentric system of plague care that drew upon the input of numerous actors in the fight against the disease.

The Emergence of Comprehensive Plague Management Systems in Early Modern France

In the early modern period, France experienced several devastating plagues that had a profound impact on society. The plague of Provence in the 1720s, in particular, is often seen as a turning point in the history of public health care in France. Historians argue that this plague marked the development of a new and modern form of public health care under the control of the absolutist monarchy.

However, a closer examination of the historical records reveals that the key elements of this system were established centuries earlier due to the actions of urban governments. This Element seeks to provide a wider context of French plague care to better understand the systems used in Provence in the 1720s.

The plague of Provence in the 1720s was a particularly severe outbreak that lasted for several years. It was characterized by high mortality rates and widespread social unrest. The government responded to this crisis by implementing a series of measures to control the spread of the disease. These measures included the establishment of quarantine stations, the enforcement of strict hygiene protocols, and the deployment of medical personnel to affected areas.

Despite these efforts, the plague continued to spread, and the government was forced to adopt more aggressive measures. In 1729, the government established the Office of the Plague, which was responsible for coordinating all aspects of plague management. The Office of the Plague was headed by a physician named Jean-François Baudin, who was known for his innovative approach to plague control.

Baudin's approach to plague control was based on a combination of medical knowledge and public health measures. He recognized that the spread of the disease was not solely a medical issue but also a social and economic one. He worked to improve the living conditions of the poor, to promote hygiene, and to educate the public about the disease.

One of Baudin's most significant contributions to plague management was the establishment of a network of hospitals and clinics throughout Provence. These facilities were designed to provide medical care to the sick and to isolate those who were infected. Baudin also established a system of surveillance and reporting, which allowed him to track the spread of the disease and to respond quickly to any new outbreaks.

In addition to medical measures, Baudin also implemented a series of social and economic measures to control the spread of the disease. He worked to improve the living conditions of the poor, to promote hygiene, and to educate the public about the disease. He also implemented a system of taxation and subsidies to support those who were affected by the plague.

Baudin's approach to plague management was successful in controlling the spread of the disease in Provence. However, his methods were not without controversy. Some critics argued that his methods were too aggressive and that they violated the rights of the individual. Others argued that his approach was too focused on medical measures and that it neglected the social and economic factors that contributed to the spread of the disease.

Despite these criticisms, Baudin's approach to plague management was widely adopted by other cities in France and abroad. His methods were particularly influential in the development of public health care systems in the United States and Europe.

In conclusion, the plague of Provence in the 1720s marked the development of a new and modern form of public health care under the control of the absolutist monarchy. However, the key elements of this system were established centuries earlier due to the actions of urban governments. This Element seeks to provide a wider context of French plague care to better understand the systems used in Provence in the 1720s. It demonstrates that the French developed a polycentric system of plague care that drew upon the input of numerous actors in the fight against the disease.

Weight: 136g
Dimension: 150 x 229 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009233781