The Impact of Diet on Health (673-684)

Like most of Europe, England ran on a diet primarily lacking Vitamins A and C as the 18th century began. Both the rich and the poor saw little reason for growing vegetables when grain and meat seemed far more effective options. However, with the introduction of the potato, first in the United Kingdom in Ireland, Europe had a new source of nutrition. The potato nourished soil by growing underground, and provided nutrients while supplying more calories per amount of space than grain. The poor were able to keep proper nutrition with the cheap vegetable, primarily the paupers of Ireland.
With advancements in diet came necessary changes in the medical world. Hospitals finally became more helpful in curing the sick rather than giving an almost certain death sentence. Mental hospitals, which were originally inhumane, keeping patients in chains, took new strides when the William Tuke of England took the chains off of his patients and treated them as real people. By the end of the 18th century, medicine had become more practical and less based on faith and miracle.
During this period, there was also a strong emphasis on Protestant Revival, led in England by John Wesley, who had a vivid style that brought people back to religion. He was very influential, speaking in fields and public places to reach all audiences. Anglicanism appeared to gain new strength with his works.