Medecine In The Middle Ages Flashcards
What did people believe about the link between illness and god?
Religion has a huge influence on people during the Middle Ages, so they believe that gods played a role in the spread of disease, for examples they believe god would create an epidemic when society were being sinful.
What did some people notice about bad smells?
Some people noticed that there was a link between disease and bad smells. Death rate was higher in towns where people were closer to each other and animals and filth, which was how disease really spread.
What did people believe about the planets and the moon?
Some astronomers blamed the planets being out of line to explain peoples illness. They believe that the human body and the planets were made up of the four elements, and for the body to operate well all the elements had to be in line.
What did people believe about the supernatural and illness?
Mystery magic and the supernatural world were used to explain unexpected happenings. Witchcraft was feared and many people feared the world was full of dangerous demons, and at arise when the church painted a picture of good vs evil these ideas seemed to fit.
What were the roles of university qualified doctors during the Middle Ages?
Though qualified, they were few and highly expensive. The reason for there being few was that it would take 7 years to qualify as a full doctor, and doctors would generally learn by listening to debates or watching physicians as work. Training doctors would learn form texts form Hippocrates and Galen. However the church had huge influence on Oxford and Cambridge, and made sure that doctors learnt Old Knowledge, and did not discover new ideas.
What was a barber surgeon?
Barber surgeons were more common in the Middle Ages. They weren’t as well respected as qualified doctors, but were more common. They combined hair cutting with small surgical operations and tooth extractions. They were mainly seen as lower class medical tradesmen. They did still have to go through an apprenticeship however, so did have some ounce of learning.
What was an apothecary?
Ordinary people also certainly depended on the apothecary. They would sell medicines as well as herbs and spices.
He would sell simples, which was simply a medicine made up of one plant or herb only.
He would also sell compounds, which were a combination of ingredients to deal with a specific illness or complaint.
What was a local wise woman?
She was often the first person contacted by poor people. They would use various homemade medicines and potions. They would use either herb remedies or supernatural curses. She would use wisdom and skills handed down by her family. Their services would be reasonably priced, and many of them acted as midwives to women in labour.
What was bloodletting?
This was when blood was removed by opening a vein or using leeches to suck blood out. Many thought that illness was caused as the body had too much blood. This cure didn’t often work as blood had to be taken from exactly the right spot form the body.
What was purging/vomiting?
This theory was also linked to the four humours, and to treat illness one of the humours had to be removed in excess, and one way to do this was vomiting.
What were herbs used for?
Medieval doctors had a large range of herbs to deal with illnesses. This included red rose ground fine with bamboo juice for smallpox.
What were prayers used for in medieval medicine?
As people believed that god sent down illness as a punishment, prayers and charms were often used as remedies, and were often made to Christ saints who were said to cure specific illnesses.
What did people do about bad smells in medieval medicine?
People who believed bad smells caused illness took posies wherever they went. Doctors wore masks containing flower petals to avoid bad smells.
What did people use whipping for in medieval medicine?
As many people believe that god sent disease as punishment, they would whip themselves to avoid punishment, so god wouldn’t have to punish them. The people who did this were called flagellants, and a lot of the time the wounds would get infected, making the person more Ill than previously.
How were pilgrimages used in medicine?
The church encouraged the belief of miraculous healing. There were many shrines filled with relics of the bones, hair and other body parts of a holy person. These shrines were places people made pilgrimages to, for help with their illness.
