What largely defined healthcare during the mid-18th to late 19th century?

The mid-18th to late 19th century was characterized by low training standards and a scarcity of institutions dedicated to healthcare. During this period, the field of medicine was transitioning but had not yet established the rigorous educational and professional standards that we associate with modern healthcare. Medical training was often obtained through apprenticeships rather than formal education, leading to variability in the quality of care provided by practitioners.

Additionally, the establishment of hospitals and medical schools was in its infancy, meaning that many healthcare providers lacked formal training that we consider essential today. This lack of institutional framework contributed to the inconsistency in medical practices, where practitioners operated under personal or localized standards, often leading to questionable or ineffective treatments.

While there were some advancements in medical knowledge and practice during this time, particularly in surgery and understanding diseases, the overall framework of healthcare was not yet robust enough to support comprehensive care or advanced specialization in many areas. This context emphasizes why low training standards and limited institutional support were defining characteristics of healthcare in that era.