History Medicine through Time in Britain: Middle Ages- Beliefs about the causes of diseases Flashcards
Learn about the beliefs for causes of disease in medieval (middle ages) Britain (24 cards)
What was the religious explanation for the cause of disease?
God
What did the Church tell people about God sending disease?
God sent it as a punishment for those who sinned, to cleanse a soul from sins and to test one’s faith.
What was the supernatural explanation for the cause of disease?
Astrology
How did people believe that astrology was the cause of disease?
The misalignment of stars and planets, and physicians may use star charts to diagnose a disease.
What a belief for the cause for disease that link to the human body?
The Theory of the Four Humours
What was the Theory of the Four Humours?
A theory which states that the body is made up of 4 substances: Blood, Phlegm, Black bile and Yellow bile
How did people believe that the four humours offered an explanation for the cause of disease?
An imbalance of one of the humours caused diseases.
Who was Hippocrates?
An Ancient Greek physician who created the Theory of the Four Humours in the 5th century
Who was Galen?
An Ancient Roman physician who promoted Hippocrates’s ideas about the Theory of the Four Humours.
How was a disease diagnosed using the The Theory of The Four Humours?
Each humour (substance) was connected to various characteristics and a specific season. Physicians would use this to find out which humour was out of balance.
How was urine used to diagnose disease?
It would be examined to check if the humours where out of balance.
Why did the Theory of The Four Humors became so popular?
Because the Church promoted and supported this, and Galen also believed in the idea of the soul.
What was a rational explanation for the cause of disease that linked to bad air?
Miasma
What was Miasma?
Bad air which was full of harmful fumes that could cause illness
What did Galen and Hippocrates say about where miasma came from?
Miasma came from swamps and corpses.
Why did ideas for cause of disease NOT change?
- Institutions: The Church
- Individuals: Hippocrates and Galen
- Lack of scientific experiments
- Attitude in society
Examples how the Church prevented beliefs for cause of disease changing?
- They only chose book which were copied by monks and given to the libraries
- They made dissections illegal and taught the idea that the body needed to be buried so the soul can go to heaven.
- They punished people who would oppose them
Explanations how the Church prevented beliefs for cause of disease from changing……. :))
- The only books that could be copied where ones approved by the Church (e.g. Galen, Hippocrates, The Theory of the Four Humours)
- There were limited opportunities for physicians to carry out experiments, preventing new ideas forming
- The people couldn’t challenge the Church’s idea’s as they didn’t want to end up in hell.
Examples of how Individuals prevented beliefs for causes of disease from changing
- Hippocrates created and developed the Theory of the Four Humours
- The Church supported Galen’s ideas as he also believed in the soul
- Their writings were translated by monks in the 11th century and gave them to universities for medical training
Explanations of how Individuals prevented beliefs for causes of disease from changing
- The work of Hippocrates and Galen was widely renowned and respected in society.
- The Theory of the Four Humours was continued to be learnt and understood by generations of physicians
- The Theory of the Four Humour still remained an popular cause for disease
Examples of how lack of scientific experiment prevented beliefs for causes of disease from changing
- Physicians and medical students rarely carried out scientific experiments and observations, such as dissections
- Occasionally, physicians dissected criminals but stayed from the body from the readings of Galen and barber surgeons would dissect the body further.
Explanations of how lack of scientific experiment prevented beliefs for causes of disease from changing
- There were limited opportunities to develop new ideas for causes of diseases
- Dissections were often carried out to prove traditional theories, but wasn’t used to develop any new scientific concepts
Examples of how attitude in society prevented beliefs for causes of disease from changing
- People in medieval times were very religious
- The Church was often regarded as the Centre of society
- People respected traditional medical ides, such as the Theory of the Four humours.
Explanations of how attitude in society prevented beliefs for causes of disease from changing
- People had immense respect for the Church and their teachings, which encouraged them to follow their beliefs for the causes of diseases
- Physicians who didn’t follow traditional ideas found it hard to work, meaning that they followed ideas and teachings to diagnose the causes of disease.
