C1 - Medieval Medicine Flashcards
What was the theory of the Four Humours?
Galen’s theory that the day contained four substances: blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile. These humours should be in equal balance for good health, and when they are unbalanced illness occurs. It was the belief that it was a doctor’s job to restore the balance of the humours, leading to treatments such as bloodletting and purging. Each humour was also linked to a season.
What did barber surgeons do?
Barber surgeons were found in towns in the medieval times. They did bloodletting and minor surgeries, such as teeth extraction. They were also known to do amputations. They tended to learn their trade by being apprenticed to others.
What did wise men or women in a village do?
They gave first aid, herbal remedies, supernatural cures with charms and spells based on tradition, word of mouth and trial and error. They often were not paid but would accept small gifts.
What did travelling healers in markets and fairs do?
They extracted teeth, sold potions and mended dislocations or fractures.
What did herbalists in monasteries do?
They used herbal treatments, bloodletting, prayer and rest in the infirmary. Their treatments were based on ancient knowledge of books like Pliny’s Natural History, word of mouth and experience.
What did trained doctors in large towns do?
They treated patients using Hippocratic and Galenic methods of British textbooks such as Gilbert Eagle’s Compendium Medicine (c1230) and Islamic texts such as Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine. There were very few doctors in medieval England and they charged fees for their services. They had to study for at least seven years at universities controlled by the Christian Church.
What were some natural and supernatural ideas of doctors in medieval times?
Natural : doctors used clinical observation (e.g. checking pulse and urine) and the four humours
Supernatural : doctors examined the position of stars to explain illness and recommended charms and prayers for treatment
What were some impacts of the Christian Church on medieval medicine?
- they believed in following the example of Jesus, who healed the sick, therefore Christians believed it was their duty to look after the sick
- they believed that God sent illness as a punishment or a test of faith, so curing an illness would challenge God’s will
- monks preserved and copied by hand ancient medical texts
- prayers were the most important form of treatment rather than drugs
- Christians believed in caring for the sick and started many hospitals; over 700 were set up in England between 1000 and 1500
- the Church believed in miraculous healing and the sick were encouraged to visit shrines (pilgrimage) with the relics of a holy person and pray to the saints to cure their illness
How were medieval hospitals funded?
By the church or a wealthy patron, e.g. St Leonard’s hospital was paid for by the Norman King Stephen
Why was Roger Bacon arrested?
He was a thirteenth century monk who was arrested by the church for suggesting doctors should do original research and not trust old books.
Were medieval hospitals focused on treatment or care?
They focused on caring for patients, not curing them. For example, many had a priest rather than a doctor.
Did the Church approve of Galen’s ideas?
Yes as he repeatedly referenced ‘the creator’ in his works (he believed in one god). Therefore, ancient ideas were taught in universities.
