How effective was medicine in Roman Britain?

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Created by: David hare
Created on: 20-04-13 14:55

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How effective was medicine in Roman Britain?
- Healers and Training
  - Doctors
    - There was a lot of quack doctors-anyone could claim they was a doctor. They would train by shadowing another.
  - Hippocrates made it clear a high standard was to be kept by doctors.
  - Hospitals for soldiers
- Ideas about Cause of Disease
  - Gods and Spirits
    - The theories that God sent illness as a punishment.
  - The Four Humours
    - Galen said and imbalance of humours caused disease
- Treatment and Prevention of illness
  - Women and Mothers (Treatment)
    - Herbal remedies (Treatments)
  - Praying and religion
    - Wearing a charm to ward of evil spirits (prevent)
    - Praying to Gods such as Asclepius-God of healing (treatments)
    - Visit a temple to see priests for advice.
    - Priests would encourage bathes, eat, exercise and rest. (Treatments)
  - Hippocrates ideas
    - Rest, gentle exercise and a light diet. (Treatments)
  - Galens theories
    - Similar to Hippocrates but he liked to intefere with the body through disections and bleeding (Treatments)
- Public Health
  - Features of Public Health systems.
    - Fresh water > Aqueducts > Water Pipe > Reservoirs > Fountains > Baths > forts > latrines > homes > sewers.
  - Did Public Health schemes help?
    - Yes: kept people hygienic to an extent, there was a large supply of fresh water pumped into towns
    - No: small villages did not get water, few houses recieved water, poor water flow lead to spread of disease, water in the baths were changed weekly, toilets emptied into rivers.
  - Romans needed healthy soldiers to keep control of empier
Women
- Healers and Training
  - Doctors
    - There was a lot of quack doctors-anyone could claim they was a doctor. They would train by shadowing another.
  - Hippocrates made it clear a high standard was to be kept by doctors.
  - Hospitals for soldiers
Hippocrates Oath