history: medicine through time Flashcards
what were the key periods
medieval period(1250-1500), renaissance period(1500-1700), 18th and 19th century(germs were discovered in 1861) and modern period (20th century - present)
what were the main reasons people believed the cause of illness was
it was sent as a punishment for a person’s sin, designed to test someone’s faith and purify their soul from the devil, the alignment of the planets and the stars(supernatural) and someone’s knowledge on disease being carried from person to person through breath
describe miasma
the explanation that bad air and smells were responsible for causing disease. This theory was supported by the church who argued that bad air was sent by God hence the avoidance of lepers in close proximity
describe the 4 humors theory
the theory was created by hippocrates an ancient Greek physician and proposed that the body had four humors and if they were out of balance then someone would become ill
galen’s theory of the 4 humors
the theory of opposite, developed by galen, ancient roman proposed that patients should be treated with the opposite conditions to re - balance the humors (e,g hot bath foe a cold)
why was there continuity about the ideas of the cause of disease during the period
This was because the church had control over book, a fear of disobeying the church just like roger bacon (was imprisoned for encouraging doctors to experiment)
what were some of the treatments for disease
astorlogy, remedies, prayer, bathing, purging and blood letting
what was purging
it was were a laxative was used to make a person vomit or need the toilet. Enemas were used for more stubborn blockages
what is bloodletting
It is removing excesss blood, cupping or leeches in attempt to re - balance the humors
what were herbal remedies
it was the use of plants and herbs to help treat
what were some supernatural treatments for the black death
confessing sins, praying for forgiveness, whipping themselves (flagellation)
what were some of the natural treatments for the black death
purging and bleeding, herbel remedies, smelling flowers, lighting fires, piercing the buboes
