c1500-c1700: Approaches to prevention and treatment

Question 1

Change in treatment

Answer 1

Theory of transference was becoming popular - e.g. rubbing a wart with a vegetable would transfer the disease to the vegetable.
The growth in alchemy has given rise to chemical cures such as antimony for purging.

Question 2

Continuity in treatment

Answer 2

Humoural treatments were still popular.

Herbal remedies were still used, but increased trade and exploration meant that people could experiment with new herbs.

Question 3

Change in prevention

Answer 3

Bathing became less popular after the breakout of syphilis.

Question 4

Continuity in prevention

Answer 4

Cleanliness and the Regimen Sanitatis was followed.

Question 5

Change/continuity in medical care - Apothecaries and surgeons

Answer 5

Continued to mix remedies, carry out surgeries, etc. Developed guild systems where men would have an apprenticeship as a journeyman and studied under a master.

Question 6

Change/continuity in medical care - Physicians

Answer 6

Continued to learn from books in universities, but there was an addition of new subjects, e.g. iatrochemistry (alchemy).

Question 7

Change/continuity in caring for the sick - Hospitals

Answer 7

Continued to do the same thing. Along with pilgrims, etc., people with curable diseases came as well.
After the dissolution of monasteries, hospital numbers fell and took a long time to recover.

Question 8

Change/continuity in caring for the sick - Pest houses

Answer 8

Specialised hospitals for people with plagues and pox, since hospitals would not accept patients with incurable diseases.

Question 9

Change/continuity in caring for the sick - Community care

Answer 9

Women continued to treat patients at home. They brewed remedies and made detailed notes on recipes.