Chapter 1.6 - Medieval Britain Flashcards
How did the Black Death get to Britain
In 1348 a ship docked with Black Death, impact was devastating
In some places whole villages wiped out
Epidemic from 1348-1349 - 50%-66% of population killed
What did people at the time think caused the Black Death
Bad smells from an overflowing privy or rotting food corrupt the air
The four humours are out of balance in each victim
Invisible fumes are spreading across the country
God is angry with us as not enough people have been going to church or behaving right
The planets are not aligned
God is angry for people wearing fancy new clothes and showing off their wealth
Huge earthquake in 1347 and Black Death started in 1347
Jews have poisoned wells and springs
How did people avoid infection of the Black Death in medieval Britain
March through streets praying to God
Make candles as tall as yourself and burn them in church
Avoid eating too much
Avoid taking a bath as opening pores of skin will let in disease
Avoid plague victims
Carry a posy of sweet smelling herbs and spices to keep away evil smells
Attend church and pray for your soul every day to keep you healthy
Bathe in urine three times a day or drink it once a day to protect you from harm
How could you be cured from the Black Death in medieval Britain
Pop open the buboes - swellings in the armpits to release the disease
Attach a live chicken or pigeon to buboes to drive away disease
Drink a mixture of vinegar and Mercury
Carry our flagellation - walking through the streets praying to God for forgiveness and whipping yourself
Bleeding will release the evils inside the body
What’s the debate over the causes of the Black Death
Many argue it was the bubonic plague spread by rate
Others think it was close contact between humans
Black Death may have been something other than bubonic plague as in winter mortality rose where rats would be dead or something
What’s an autopsy
The opening up of a corpse go find out why a person died
What’s cauterisation
Burn the skin or flesh of a wound with a heated instrument or caustic substance in order to stop bleeding or prevent infection
What’s the doctrine of signatures
States that herbs that resemble various parts of the body can be used by herbalists to treat ailments of those parts of the body
The doctrine dates from galens time
What’s the Hippocratic oath
Oath taken by new doctors agreeing to do no harm to their patients
Still widely used today by new doctors
What’s mortality
The death rate, usually measured per thousand of population
What’s a physic garden
Garden used solely for growing herbs used in preparing medicines and treating illnesses
