Alignment of planets was thought to be a cause of disease
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Religious ideas about disease
It was believed that God made people ill as a form of punishment. This held back medical research as nobody felt the need to question it.
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The Four Humours
Ancient Greeks believed that everybody has four humours in their body: blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm. When the four humours were unbalanced, you would become ill.
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Theory of Opposites
In the 2nd century AD, Galen developed the four humours theory. He aimed to balance the humours by giving the patient the opposite of their symptoms.
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Miasma
The theory that disease was transmitted through air. This is also related to religious ideas as people though that it meant that God could smell sin.
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Galen
Developed Hippocrates' theory of the four humours. He was also known for drawing detailed diagrams of the human anatomy, however they were based from knowledge of dissected animal bodies, so they were not accurate.
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Hippocrates
Believed there was a physical reason for disease. He was known for his treatments which were based on diet and exercise and the Hippocratic Oath, where doctors swore to respect life and prevent harm.
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Religious and supernatural methods of prevention
Chanting incantations, self punishment-such as flagellation, carrying lucky charms and living a Christian life.
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Rational methods of prevention
Keeping streets clean, bathing and washing, purifying the air, exercising, not overeating, bleeding and purging
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Religious treatments
Praying, fasting, going on pilgrimage and praying for special mass to be said
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Traditional treatments
Herbs were drunk, sniffed or bathed in, different food - rebalanced humours, ointments to apply to skin
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Barber-surgeons
Had no training. Used methods such as bloodletting, pulling teeth, lancing boils and cutting hair. They also did basic surgery such as amputating limbs (although it had a very low success rate)
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Care in the home
Most ill people throughout this period were treated at home by a female family member. The village 'wise woman', often the Lady of the Manor, would also tend to people in their homes for free.
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Apothecaries
Received training but no medical qualifications. Used mixed medicines and ointments based on their own knowledge or directions of a physician. Cost money (although less than a physician)
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Physicians
Medically trained at university and passed exams. Diagnosed illnesses and gave treatments, or sent patients to the apothecary or barber-surgeon. Expensive, so mainly used by the wealthy. Very few of them, with women physicians very rare.
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Hospitals 1
There were only about 1,100 hospitals in England by 1500 which ranged in size, this meant that patient would often have to share beds. About 30% of all hospitals were ran by the Church; the rest were funded by wealthy people.
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Hospitals 2
Hospitals were not necessarily used to treat the sick rather they were use as a place of rest. Nuns and monks would keep the hospitals clean and take care of the patients.
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The Black Death 1348-1349 symptoms
Chest pains, breathing troubles, fever, sneezing, coughing up blood, boils and black buboes appearing in the groin and armpits.
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The Black Death religious causes
God was deserting humankind and punishing the world for its sin
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The Black Death astrological causes
It was also noted that, in 1345, there was an unusual positioning of the planets Mars, Jupiter and Saturn which astrologers interpreted as a sign that something bad was going to happen
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The Black Death natural causes
People mainly believed that miasma caused the Black Death as it had affected the body's humours.
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The Black Death supernatural treatments
The main recommendation was confessing sins and asking God for forgiveness through prayer. However, many though it was God's will and therefore it could not be treated
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The Black Death natural treatments
Bleeding and purging, herbs - myrrh and aloe, lighting fires and boiling vinegar to drive off bad air, lancing buboes
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The Black Death supernatural prevention
Praying to God, going on pilgrimages and self-flagellation
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The Black Death natural methods of prevention
People were advised to "go quickly, go far and return slowly". They believed that carrying flowers would drive away the bad smells. Bathing was also believed to cause the skin's pored to become exposed to corrupted air and so people had to avoid it.
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The Black Death government action
Quarantine laws, new people had to stay away from others for 40 days, stopped cleaning the streets so the foul stench would drive off the miasma.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
It was believed that God made people ill as a form of punishment. This held back medical research as nobody felt the need to question it.
Back
Religious ideas about disease
Card 3
Front
Ancient Greeks believed that everybody has four humours in their body: blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm. When the four humours were unbalanced, you would become ill.
Back
Card 4
Front
In the 2nd century AD, Galen developed the four humours theory. He aimed to balance the humours by giving the patient the opposite of their symptoms.
Back
Card 5
Front
The theory that disease was transmitted through air. This is also related to religious ideas as people though that it meant that God could smell sin.
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