Medieval Medicine Flashcards
(30 cards)
What role did people think god played on illness
They thought it was ent by god as a punishment for their sins
What was the meaning theory that people thought caused illness in medieval times
The 4 humours said illness was caused by black bile yellow bile blood and phlegm being out of balance so they would use methods such as bloodletting and purging to “balance” them
Why did the 4 humours theory go unquestioned for so long
As Galen + Hippocrates were paired with the church which had extensive power. Dissection was banned and there was little knowledge about illness- no germ theory etc
Why did people think it was the air causing illness
They believed that miasma(bad air) or bad smells carried illness so they carried sweet smelling poseys
Who treated people during medieval medicine
Apothecaries
Wise women
Few physicians (expensive)
Barber surgeons
What did people think caused the Black Death
Jews poisoning water
Black Death
4 humours
Miasma
Planets
Natural disaster (earthquake)
God
What did people about zodiac/ planets
People thought the movement of the stars decided if people got I’ll and used zodiac charts to treat the ill
What were Urine charts
Where your urine would be observed and possibly even tasted to find the cause of illness/ treatment
Why did Galen cause progress to be hindered
Everyone just relied upon his ways and didn’t/weren’t allowed to question his ways. He was also the only one allowed to do dissections
What was the main reason no one would question the church/Galen and just comply with what they say
As the church would not allow any other approach except theirs. Roger Bacon was imprisoned for suggesting a natural approach
What role did Islamic doctors play during this time
They were the first to start making proper progress to medicine. For example ibn Donna who wrote the cannon of medicine which was a very complete book which covered anatomy diagnosis treatment etc
What was the name of the oath Hippocrates created that is still used today
The Hippocratic oath that states that doctors will not intentionally harm patients.
What did John Bradmore do
He invented the Bradmore screw which successfully took an arrow out of his face. He was a war surgeon.
What did John of arderne do
He was a doctor who helped out at war and whilst he specialised in people’s backsides he created a painkilling ointment containing hemlock and opium
What did abulcasis do
He was an Islamic surgeon who invented surgical instruments and techniques
What role did the crusades have in medicine
As well as new ideas needing to be created and used it also spread the ideas around the world
What was the ‘wound man’
A medical illustration depicting the human body and had a table of contents for various injuries and diseases
What were the most common medical practitioners
Barber surgeons who would have some training
Why was surgery still not very advanced
as it was still very painful and there was no effective antiseptic
What role did religion play in the hospitals
The duty of care meant many would build and help out in hospitals
Where the western/East European hospitals better
The east European hospitals would care for the ill dislike those in the west and had actual doctors who were far more advanced
What role did religion play in universities
They built many universities to teach people the ways of medicine
What would the monks in the western hospitals use
They would use the teachings of Hippocrates and Galen
During medieval times was medicine in the west (Christian influence) more or less advanced than the east (Islamic influence)
Far less advanced due to many aspects such as dissection being banned and strictly following the teachings of galen
