History medicine Flashcards
What were the supernatural/religious explanations for the cause of disease in the middle ages?
•the devil- believed he sent illness to test peoples faith
•god- believed he sent illness as a punishment (e.g leprosy. those with leprosy would be be banished)
•astronomy- the alignment of planets and stars was used to diagnose illness
•the four humours- having an imbalance in the four humours would cause ill health
What were the four humours? Why did it stay popular for so long? (m)
Theory created by ancient greek physician Hippocrates. Later developed by Galen (theory of opposites)
Popular as it was detailed and could be used to describe almost any kind of illness, mental or physical. Other physicians saw the logic and there wasnt any other explanations at the time.
What are the three reasons Galen continued to be so influential? (m)
•The influence of the church
•The importance of book learning
•The lack of alternative theories
Why was the churches influence? (galen) (m)
•Galen believed in the soul which meant his theories fitted very well with the churches ideas. Therefore they promoted his teachings.
•Books produced in monasteries
•Church controlled medical thinking and teaching in universities
Give an example of why there was a lack of medical learning in the middle ages. (m)
One example is dissections, there were illegal but on the rare occasion that a physician could dissect a criminal sentenced to death by vivisection, any new findings that opposed galens theories were explained away because a criminals body would be imperfect.
Define barber surgeon. (m)
Worked with sharp knives, gave haircuts, also carried out small medical procedures like blood letting or small surgeries.
What is miasma?
Miasma is the idea that bad air could cause ilness. Things like swamps, corpses and foul smelling things were believed to be the cause of illness.
What were urine charts? (m)
Physicians would examine patients urine to determine illness based on colour, smell, consistency and even taste!
Were the middle ages a time of change or continuity and why?
Time of continuity because there were few changes. The church remained powerful and controlled medical learning. If criticised said person would be ‘condemned to hell’. Lack of scientific understanding, no experimentation.
What were some religious and supernatural treatments during the middle ages?
•Healing prayers and incantations
•Paying for a special mass to be said
•Fasting
•Pilgrimages
Why was astrology important for prescribing treatmeant? (m)
Treatments varied according to patients horoscope and the planets alignment.
What were humoural treatments? (m)
•Blood letting (cutting, leeches, cupping)
•Purging (laxatives or emetics)
•Remedies (herbal to drink, bathe in, or sniff)
•Bathes (suggested to clear blockages in the humours)
Ideas about preventing disease. (m)
•The church (lead a sin free life)
•Hygiene (spiritual and bodily health)
•Diet (against eating too much)
•Purifying air (spreading sweet herbs, carried posies or pomanders)
Who were the medieval medics?
•Women (most people were treated at home by a female family member)
•Physicians (main role to diagnose illness and recommend treatment. Very expensive)
•Apothecaries (mixed herbal remedies, studies the materia medica, considered to be as skilled and knowledgeable as physicians and therefore seen as a threat, also prescribed poison)
•Surgeons (barber surgeons were the least qualified, pulled teeth etc)
How were sick people cared for? (m)
•Hospitals (in the 1500s there were around 1100 hospitals, most didn’t actually treat people but instead provided hospitality. Alot were run by the church)
•The home (vast majority of people were cared for at home)
