Medicine in Britain c1250-c1500: The Middle Ages
- Created by: SGriffin49
- Created on: 06-10-21 14:02
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- Medicine in Britain c1250-c1500: The Middle Ages
- Ideas: Supernatural and Religious
- The Christian Church was dominant in medieval society which meant supernatural ideas were common.
- The Church taught, and people believed that God made them ill because he was either displeased with them or testing their faith.
- The alignment of the planets and stars was thought to be the cause of some diseases.
- Astrology was used to help diagnose what was wrong with a patient.
- The religious beliefs held people back from finding the true cause of illness.
- The Church set up the universities that physicians trained at.
- The Church discouraged dissection and did not approve of people challenging ideas.
- Most large collections of books were in monasteries which meant the church were in charge of what books were read.
- The Church promoted the ideas of Galen as his theories fitted Christian beliefs.
- The Church also taught that people should follow Jesus' example and care for the sick.
- Rational explanations for Disease
- The Four Humours.
- The Ancient Greeks believed everyone was a mix of four humours and people became ill when they were unbalanced.
- Idea created by Hippocrate-s
- Theory of Opposites.
- Galen further developed the Theory of the Four Humours.
- Aimed to balance the humours by giving the patient the 'opposite' of their symptoms.
- Miasma.
- Some believed that disease was transmitted through 'bad air'./
- This was linked to religion as bad smells indicated sin.
- The Four Humours.
- Approaches to prevention and treatment
- Rational treatment with the four humours included blood letting and purging.
- Religious
- Living a Christian life.
- Carrying lucky charms or amulets.
- Chanting incantations
- Self punishment
- Rational
- Keep streets clean.
- Purifying the air.
- Exercising.
- Not overeating.
- Bathing and washing.
- Treatments
- Religious: praying, fasting, pilgrimage, paying for a special Mass.
- Rational: herbs, foods to rebalance the humours, ointments to apply to the skin.
- Approaches to caring for the sick.
- Who treated the sick?
- Barber-surgeons: No training, carried out basic surgery.
- Apothecaries: no medical qualification, cost money.
- Care in home: treated by a female family member.
- Physicians: medically trained, expensive.
- Hospitals: infectious or incurable diseases, kept clean, fresh food and rest.
- Who treated the sick?
- Ideas: Supernatural and Religious
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