What have been the roles of charities and the state in supporting medical provision? Far from being of only historical interest, these are issues of major relevance today, as the assumptions and practices of the welfare state are increasingly thrown into doubt. Medicine and Charity Before the Welfare State offers a broad perspective on the relationship between charity and medicine in Western Europe up to advent of welfare states in the twentieth century. Through detailed case studies, the authors highlight significant differences between Britain, France, Italy and Germany, and offer a critical vocabulary for grasping the issues raised. This volume reflects recent developments relating to the role of charity in medicine, particularly the revival of interest in the place of voluntary provision in contemporary social policy. It emphasises the changing balance of `care' and `cure' as the aim of medical charity, and shows how economic and political factors influenced the varying forms of charity.