Medieval medicine Flashcards
Causes and treatments (38 cards)
What is the definition of TREATMENT?
What can be done to help somebody with an illness or disease.
What is the definition of CAUSE?
What has led to somebody getting a disease or illness or what they believed caused it.
What is the definition of PREVENTION?
What could people do to stop a disease spreading in the first place.
What is the definition of DIAGNOSIS?
When all the symptoms are looked at and it can be worked out what the person is suffering from.
What did medieval people believe caused disease?
supernatural, Miasma and religion
According to medieval beliefs, what was the role of God in causing disease?
God allows plagues and suffering to terrify and torment people to drive out their sins as punishment
What did medieval doctors believe about the body?
The body was made up of four humours: Black bile, yellow bile, blood and phlegm
What happens if the four humours get out of balance?
You fall ill.
What was believed to be a cause of illness in summer?
Dry heat increasing fire, leading to sweating and bad temper.
What was believed to be a cause of illness in winter?
Damp climate increasing water, leading to more phlegm and coughs.
What was the practice of letting blood believed to do?
Restore the balance of humours.
What was one source of disease according to medieval beliefs?
Corruption of air from toilets or dead animals.
What did the Church teach about sin and disease?
Those who were sinful would be punished by God, and recovery could be a miracle.
True or False: The Devil was often considered responsible for causing diseases.
True.
What role did astrology play in medieval medicine?
Astrology was used to diagnose illness based on the alignment of planets and stars.
Fill in the blank: The practice of restoring balance in the body by letting blood is called _______.
bloodletting.
Who were believed to have influence over the body according to medieval astrology?
Astrological signs.
What was the belief about the source of disease from privies?
Corruption of the air leading to illness and bad smells
What did medieval beliefs suggest about the relationship between sin and disease?
Illness could be a punishment for sin.
What type of diseases were often attributed to the Devil?
Diseases considered to be sent as punishment.
What were the four humours in medieval medicine?
- Earth * Fire * Water * Air
What could be a consequence of an imbalance in the humours during summer?
Increased sweating and irritability.
What could be a consequence of an imbalance in the humours during winter?
Increased phlegm and respiratory issues.
What is the theory of Miasma?
The theory that disease is caused by poisonous vapours in the air
