1.1 Medieval Medicine Flashcards
4 causes of disease
Punishment from God because of sin
Astrology, the alignments of the planets could cause illness (supernatural)
The theory of the four humours
Miasma (bad air) carried disease
What was Leprosy and what happened to the people who got leprosy?
Leprosy was a diseased often associated with punishment from God
It began as a skin disease and followed by paralysis and death
There was no cure so leapers were banished from their community
Leapers lived in leaper colonies or Lazar houses
How was astrology used in medicine; did the church agree?
The alignment of the planets and stars was used when diagnosing illness
The church frowned upon it until after the black death
What is the theory of the four humours?
The universe is made up of four elements therefore, the body must be too
Blood
Phlegm (watery substance coughed up),
Black bile (probably clotted blood in vomit and excrement)
Choler (yellow bile in pus or vomit)
the humours must be in balance otherwise the body becomes ill
What qualities/ elements was each humour linked too?
Yellow bile - fire, hot, dry
Black bile - earth, dry cold
Phlegm - water, cold, wet
Blood - air, hot, wet
Where did the theory of the four humours come from?
Invented by Hippocrates
Developed by Galen
Galen balanced the humours by treated them with opposites
Why was the theory of the four humours popular?
It was detailed
Could explain almost every disease
3 reasons way Galen’s ideas were so influential
The church liked the ideas as they fitted with their beliefs that the body had been designed with purpose
Few people could read so having read the work of Galen you were deemed very intelligent
There were few other alternatives, also dissections weren’t allowed so there was no other scientific evidence
What was miasma?
Miasma was bad air filled with fumes
Hippocrates and Galen both wrote about this
Bad smells were thought to have spread disease so people made their homes sweet smelling and clean
What were urine charts?
Urine charts were used to help examine urine.
physicians would check the colour, smell, thickness and taste
The urine would be compared to a chart which would help make the diagnosis
Change and continuity of practises in the middle ages?
There was not much change
the church controlled medical learning and it liked the theory of the four humours
Medieval people had a strong belief in God and the church
People also knew what a ‘good’ physician would practice so challenging the church meant little work
