medieval medicine

Question 1

Hippocrates

Answer 1

• known as the ‘father of medicine’
• first person who showed the importance of observing patients symptoms before diagnosis
• made the four humours theory

Question 2

four humours

Answer 2

Hippocrates theorised that four humours made up the human body:
- Blood
- Phlegm: A water-like substance coughed out or contained in a sneeze
- Black Bile: Blood that had clotted, seen in vomit or poo
- Yellow Bile (Choler): A substance contained in vomit or pus

People believed that for a person to be healthy, the four humours should be in balance

Question 3

Galen

Answer 3

• roman physician
• expanded on the theory of the four humours
• he dissected animals to provide evidence of his theories using the function of organs nerves and skeletal structure
• dominated medical thinking for 1400 years until Vesailus

Question 4

Theory of opposites

Answer 4

This was the theory that if one of the humours are in excess then you need to treat it with the opposite humour