Bookelt 1 Flashcards
(70 cards)
Where was a deadly place to live and why?
Towns were more deadly because they were overcrowded and disease spread quickly
What were some common reasons for death in medieval times? (6 answers)
Famine, war, smallpox, measles, childbirth, typhoid
What was ‘ Saint Anthonys Disease’?
Caused by fungus growing on stored rye in damp conditions. the rye would be ground into to flour and baked in bread. Those who ate it would develop painful rashes and sometimes death.
What did medieval people think made them ill? ( 5 answers )
Religion, Bad smells (miasma), everyday life, the supernatural, ideas of Hippocrates and Galen
Why did medieval people think religion made them ill? ( 2 answers )
As a punishment from God if they had lived a sinful life. Also the belief of Doctrine of signatures, that God had made illness, but also made the right herbs and plants to treat illness. Humans just had to find them.
Why did medieval people think miasma made them ill?
Mortality rates were higher in towns and cities where people lived in filth. They said you could smell a town before you could see it, so people began to link that the places that smelt worse had more diseases.
Why did medieval people think that everyday life caused death?
Some believed death and disease were inevitable, many children would die before age 7 and childbirth would often result in death for the mother. Therefore it was not uncommon. As well as this, warfare and famine were very common ways to die.
Why did medieval people think that the supernatural made them ill?
Many people blamed witchcraft or demons for illness
What were the ideas of Hippocrates?
Hippocrates believed in the four humours. These were:
. Yellow Bile
. Black bile
. Phlegm
. Blood
He believed that to stay healthy you needed to keep these in balance.
What were the ideas of Galen?
Galen further developed the ideas of Hippocrates, but believed to treat and illness you should use the opposite of the humoured. Eg, if someone had a fever they would be treated with something cold. His ideas were widely used across Europe after he wrote books which were translated into many different languages.
What did Galen get wrong about the human body?
He based his ideas off of animal bodies after he dissected animals. For example he believed the human jaw was made of two bones not one
Who would treat the sick in medieval times? ( 4 answers )
. Barber - surgeons
. Apothecary
. Medieval Doctors
. Wise women
how would a barber - surgeon treat their patients?
They would often be found in towns and cities and would carry out minor operations, set broken bones or pull teeth out. To become a barber surgeon, you would need to serve an apprenticeship. As said in the name, barber-surgeons were also barbers, so not very qualified. They would often be used by people who had money.
How would a wise woman treat illness?
They would have wisdom and skills often passed down by a family member that meant they could heal people. They were priced fairly and would often already know the patient they were treating. They were believed to be knowledgeable about treatments.
How did some one become a doctor in the medieval times?
They would study at a university such as Cambridge for at least 7 years. They would learn by listening to lectures or books. Often, they would leave medical school having never actually seen a patient.
What treatments did medieval doctors follow?
The doctors would follow the practices of Hippocrates and Galen. Hippocrates believed in the importance of observation as well as diet and rest. Galen also believed it was important to observe as well as using natural resources to make cures. For many medical students, Galen’s book was the primary source of information.
What was ‘clinical observation’?
It was an Ancient Greek method to observe a patient to find the diagnosis. They would only look at two indicators:
. Pulse
. Colour, taste and smell of urine
What were some common treatments used by medieval doctors?
. Bloodletting - when blood was removed by opening a vein or using leeches. It didn’t often work as the blood had to be taken from a very exact spot
. Taking something to make you vomit or go to the toilet
. Remedies which combined natural with the supernatural
How did Christianity affect medieval medicine?
They followed the example of Jesus which was to heal the sick. This meant that they founded many of the hospitals. However they also believed that illness’ had been given by God as a punishment so it was not their job to cure them. They believed in ‘care not cure’. Because of this, Christian hospitals relied heavily on prayers and miraculous healing.
How many hospitals were there between 1000-1500?
Over 700, many of which were funded by the church
What were Christian hospitals like?
They were a quiet and clean space for people to recover. Although they did not yet know germs caused disease, the hospitals being clean were a great help.
How many patients did a Christian hospital have in them?
Sometimes only 12 patients
Who worked in Christian hospitals?
Many did not have doctors, but a chaplain, and were run by monks or nuns
