ancient and prehistoric Flashcards
describe the treatments in prehistoric time
- The majority of the treatments were supernatural
- No written records
- They used charms/amulets to ward off evil spirits
- Medicine man
- they could fix broken bones with casts and clay
what was trepanning?
holes were cut in the skull using copper or flint tools, they believed this released evil spirits which were the cause of disease. Actually relieved pressure on the brain. There is evidence of people surviving the operation because the bone has grown back/more than one hole. It was a widespread practice because many examples have been found.
what time period was ancient Egypt?
3000 BC - 1000 BC
What was the channel theory?
- They believed in the channel theory, the body was like the river Nile and had channels; if they were blocked then you would become ill. This was a natural cause of disease. They used purging, bleeding and vomiting to clear the channels.
the reason it was based on the nile was because they used the nile for transport, water supplies and washing it was very important in ancient egypt.
what was the afterlife and its role?
The afterlife was where you travelled to after death. There were many preparations for it like mummification. Mummification removed some of the internal organs an weighed the heart but little anatomical progress was made because the organs were believed to be needed in the afterlife and they weren’t kept. Dissection was banned.
ancient egypt ( 5 details)
- They irrigated the desert well which meant not everyone worked on the Nile, some people trained as doctors but they were also priests
- They had medical books which contained spells and treatments.
- Very good public health, shaved, combed and washed every day.
- Sekhmet: goddess of war (caused and cured disasters)
- Most people believed in supernatural causes of disease
which time period was ancient Greece?
700 BC - 300 BC
describe ancient Greece main treatments.
Prayed to the god Asklepios and went to an Asclepion to be healed.
Asclepions where temples. On arrival you were bathed, cleansed and purged, then put on a special diet. In the night they would sleep in the Abaton, Asklepios’s daughters Hygea and Panacea would visit patients with a holy snake and cure them.
Normally this wouldn’t work but from time to time things such as the placebo effect cured patients.
The snake is still a medical symbol and we use the words hygiene and panacea.
Describe Hippocrates and his medical acheivements
HIPPOCRATES born: 460 BC on the Greek island of Kos, died 377 BC. Invented the natural theory of the four humours. He also saw the importance of observation and recording patient’s symptoms. Invented the Hippocratic oath – still used today and wrote many medical books, Hippocrates influenced the works of people such as Galen and his work was used for 2000 years after.
ancient greece 4 details
They believed exercise and healthy diet was important(the Olympic games)
Divided into many cities
Greek was easier to understand compared to hieroglyphics.
Doctor weren’t priests
which time period was ancient rome?
700 BC - 4000 AD
Ancient Rome - public health
- Built aqueducts and cities
- Went to public baths often
- Took sanitation and public health seriously
Ancient Rome, war features
Warlike and had a big empire
Adopted ideas from conquered cities (had greek doctors)
Women didn’t play very big role
War was a large factor for development because there were many wars so surgeons could get hands on experience
Galen - details
Galen born: 130 AD died 210 AD. Based in Alexandria, wrote over 100 books. He dissected pigs and claimed to have dissected humans although he made anatomical mistakes. His books referred to ‘a creator’
ancient greek - the four humours
Invented by Hippocrates, the four humours were black bile, yellow bile, blood and phlegm. If they were unbalanced then you would become ill and they would need balancing by purging, bleeding, and laxatives.
