Medicine in the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe was practiced by a variety of “Healers” or “Practitioners” that ministered to the medical needs of the poor and of the rural people. Physicians then were a small elite group of learned men who practiced in towns among the rich elite of society. Population growth however led to a demand for more medical services. The social pressure of public need and a breakdown of the old social barriers soon led to all practitioners, graduate and not, practicing as “General Practitioners” (GP’s).