Medical Renaissance In England

Question 1

The Renaissance
Writing and Knowledge

Answer 1

Scholars restored old texts to fix bad translations from the Middle ages.
Hippocrates and Galens theories became popular again (continuity)

Question 2

Humanism and science

Answer 2

Humanism- importance of human factors rather than supernatural.
Focus on direct observation and experiments to explain things rather than blame on supernatural. Led to people questioning the church. (Change)

Question 3

Communication and the printing press

Answer 3

The printing press created in 1440) allowed knowledge to be spread cheaply. Books and leaflets could be spread across Europe (change: word of mouth)

Question 4

Impact on Medicine

Answer 4

Rediscovery of Galen and Hippocrates work lead to the importance of dissection and human anatomy.
Encouraged experimentation and the search for explanation. Began to dissect corpses and illustrations in medical writings and books.

Question 5

New weapons and Injuries

Answer 5

Guns became a lot more common in 17th century warfare. Doctors had to find new ways to treat gunshot wounds. (Change)

Question 6

Dissections

Answer 6

Dissections became a more integral part of medical training.
The College of Physicians (1518) improved training and encouraged scientific observation.

Question 7

Fewer British Hospitals

Answer 7

Between 1536-41 Henry VIII closed a lot of British monasteries.
Because Hospitals were run by Monasteries, there were fewer hospitals than in previous years

Question 8

Methods of treatment, doctors

Answer 8

Still didn’t have much training and used old methods that people like Harvey thought were in effective. But some began to use more modern techniques

Question 9

Methods of treatment, lack of alternatives

Answer 9

The printing press and the works of Harvey, Pare, Vesalius and Sydenham helped to spread new ideas.
However, blood transfusions only offered a solution to treat patients after Harvey’s theory of circulation in 1628.

Question 10

Methods of Treatment, Religion and Supernatural

Answer 10

Renaissance was still very religious. Doctors still believed that supernatural things caused disseases. Pilgrimages and prayers were still prescribed to cure disease. Royal touch, people went to the king to be cured of scrofula.
Went to wise women and Apothecaries to cure disease.

Question 11

Methods of treatment
Advances in Medicine

Answer 11

Hospitals began to focus on treating patients
Lots of towns had pharmacies
Books were being published which covered how to treat illness at home.

Question 12

Methods of treatment
Quackery

Answer 12

Form of medicine based on spectacles and displays. Viewed as fraudulent. Common in 17th and 18th century.
Quacks claimed their medicine could cure anything but was usually ineffective.
Gave patients depressants like opium, impression they were getting better, but really an addiction

Question 13

Thomas Sydenham, born 1624.
Scientific observation

Answer 13

Prioritised treating patients and observing the outcomes rather than learning from books.
He recorded his observations of patients illness and treatments and this allowed him to see patterns between illness and treatments

Question 14

Thomas Sydenham 1624
Classification of disease and diagnosis

Answer 14

Used his records to classify diseases into types based on which symptoms a patient had.
Ex, showed that measles and scarlet fever were different types of disease.

Question 15

Thomas Sydenham, 1624, writings 1676

Answer 15

Published a book called Medical Observations, 1676, used for centuries. He described diff illnesses and how to treat them ex gout.

Question 16

How did the printing press help scientific progress?

Answer 16

If people did not fully understand a theory, they could not critique it. Publishing lots of copies of a theory meant that more people could understand it in more detail. Work out what is wrong or right. Students studying medicine could use books and textbooks more often.

Question 17

The Royal Society

Answer 17

Created in 1660 with King Charles II support.

Question 18

The royal Society, spreading scientific ideas.

Answer 18

The Royal Societys journal was called “Philosophical Transactions”. Well respected, helped spread scientific and medical ideas around Britain. Ex. Isaac Newton’s first Paper ‘ New theory about light and colours’ was published in P.T.

Question 19

The royal Society, the scientific process.

Answer 19

The motto of the royal society was “Nullius in verba” which means ‘take nobody’s word for it’.
Incourages people to make observations and question assumptions underlying different medical treatment and scientific theories.

Question 20

Hospitals in the Reneissance.

Answer 20

Modern Hospitals are born from the 17th and 18th century.
Funded by wealthy people or by private subscriptions from the local community.
Specialist wards and specialist hospitals were established to treat certain diseases.

Question 21

Changes in Hospitals, Nursing

Answer 21

Not much changed in nursing. Reformers like Florence Nightingale drove a lot of reforms in hospitals but not untill late mid 1800s.

Question 22

Changes in Hospitals, the poor

Answer 22

The poor, unemployed or elderly were often looked after in workhouses. Conditions often very bad, got better after 1850s.

Question 23

Changes in Hospitals, number of them

Answer 23

18th century there was a significant increase in hospitals
In London there were 5 more general Hospitals between 1720 and 1750.
This was accompanied with a rise in patient numbers.

Question 24

Changes in Hospitals, attitudes and beliefs.

Answer 24

Hospital treatment was free but most was still based on the 4humours.
The idea that illness was a punishment for sin was less popular.

Question 25

Changes for physicians and surgeons in the Renaissance

Answer 25

The College of Physicians was set up in 1518. Most British doctors were trained here and they were still learning Galens works.
18th century most doctors believed in miasma or 4 humours.
Doctors got a license if they were trained at the college of Physicians.
Quack doctors did not get a license.

Question 26

Changes for surgeons

Answer 26

There were professional surgeons, well respected, well payed, trained at Universities.
Barber surgeons, unqualified not very well respected.
In 1800s the London College of Surgeons was set up. Created training standards for surgeons.

Question 27

Vesalius and Dissections

Answer 27

Thought that surgery would only get better if people understood anatomy better.
He used dissections of executed criminals to show that Galens understanding was wrong.
Faced opposition and had to leave his job at the university

Question 28

Versalius writings

Answer 28

Published the Six Anatomical Pictures in 1538 and the fabric of the human body in 1543. Had illustrations of his dissections and reached physicians in Britain.

Question 29

Versalius and inspiring anatomists

Answer 29

Doctors were encouraged to dissect themselves after Vesalius work.
Credited with inspiring other anatomists.

Question 30

Harvey Vs Galen

Answer 30

Harvey challenged Galens theory of blood
Harvey thought that blood circulated (using valves to prove this) around the body. Against Galens view that blood was made in the liver and used as fuel. (Harvey thought there was too much blood for it to be continually created as fuel.)

Question 31

Harvey 😒resistance to change

Answer 31

When he published his theory he was ridiculed. Profession opinions did not change. Bloodletting was still used.
Highlights limited impact of one individual. Not accepted by medical community.

Question 32

The great Plague, believed causes

Answer 32

Miasma or Gods will
25% of England population killed 💀

Question 33

The great plague, remedies 1665

Answer 33

Bloodletting through leeches.
Smoking, using animals like frogs or snakes to draw out poison.

Question 34

The great plague, improvements

Answer 34

Local gov was more organised. Quarantine was more effective. Bodies collected and buried at least 6ft down. Trade stopped. Communal gatherings banned. People locked in houses to avoid spread. England Scotland boarder was closed.