Ideas

Question 1

continuity on causes of disease

Answer 1

• miasma is still believed and popular

- Four Humours theory is still accepted but by 1700 very few physicians believed in it

Question 2

changing influence of the Church

Answer 2

• ideas of the Church were challenged
• people looked for new explanations
• less reliance of Galen

Question 3

change in the work of physicians and scientists

Answer 3

• fewer people believed that astrology caused disease and physicians stopped using astrology charts for diagnosis and treatment
• improved knowledge of digestion meant urine wasn’t used as an indicator for illness and was stopped
• more direct observations and examinations carried out rather than relying on patient explanations

Question 4

Thomas Sydenham (English Hippocrates)

Answer 4

• London doctor
• “Observationes Medicae” 1676 to outline his theories
• didn’t rely on medical books but symptoms
• based treatment on disease as a whole
• instrumental in the idea that disease is separate from the person

Question 5

printing press

Answer 5

• invented in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg
• texts could be produced quickly
• reduced Church’s control as there was no prevention on what could be posted
• in 1500, there were 100s of printing presses across Europe

Question 6

The Royal Society

Answer 6

• further scientific understanding by carrying out experiments, sharing knowledge and encouraging new ideas/theories
• sponsored scientists to carry out research
• “Philosophical Transactions” published in 1665 which collected work
• scientists could build on each other’s ideas
• charter granted by King Charles II