Medicine Flashcards
What did Galen have to rely on to further his knowledge?
Dissection of animals e.g. Monkeys
What were galen’s errors?
He said one kidney was higher than the other
The jaw was made from two bones fused together rather than one bone
Blood flowed between the two halves of the heart through a semi permeable membrane
What was Galen correct about?
The nervous system takes messages from the brain to the muscles
Urine was made in the kidneys
Why and how did the church promote Galen’s work in the Middle Ages?
Monks translated Galen’s books back into English. Galen suggested the body was perfectly designed as if by creator- this was similar to what the Christians believed so they promoted his work
Describe the training of doctors in roman times
There was no compulsory training. Doctors would often purchase Galen’s books and work from those
What were the causes of disease in the roman times?
- an imbalance of the humours
- god (apollo) punishing sinners
- miasma
- Varro blamed creatures too small to be seen (superstitious)
What were the treatments of disease in roman times?
- blood letting
- praying to gods
- herbal remedies
- exercise, diet to keep the body physically fit and healthy
- theory of opposites
Name some of the factors of public health during the roman times
- public fountains for drinking and washing
- bath houses for washing and exercise
- sewers carries away waste from houses, latrines and baths
- forts had their own bath houses and water supply
- strigil to scrape muck from the skin
- taxes collected to pay for public health systems
- aqueducts to carry fresh water into towns
What were some of the disadvantages of roman public health ?
Lead pipes were used which could poison some people
What were hospitals like in roman times?
Light, airy and spacious. Often 4 beds to a ward and there could be up to 60 wards
What was treatment focused on in roman hospitals ?
Making the patient better, rather than just caring for them. Treatments often focused on prioritising the health of soldiers
Who was the Paterfamilias?
The father of the family who was expected to provide and care for the family
Who were Medici?
Military nurses - skilled surgeons
How did civilisation in England fall apart after the Romans left?
- the Britons left Behring could not read the Latin books left by the romans
- there was no strong king, many kingdoms formed but none were rich enough to build public health systems or universities
- communications were dangerous and difficult, so ideas travelled slowly
What were the causes of disease in the Middle Ages/medieval times?
- 4 humours (promoted by the church)
- Miasma, although now it seemed the air was distorted by the planets (astrology)
- god gave it as punishments
- witches
- people who were culturally different e.g. Jews
- earthquakes and volcanic eruptions thought to infect the air
How did things begin to improve in 1500?
Universities were established , e.g. Paris (1110) and oxford (1167)
How was medical advancement hard in the Middle Ages/medieval times?
- the church forbade dissection and encouraged prayer and superstition instead
- church encouraged the use of galens ideas
- lack of resources to build public health systems
- social disorder and war made communication and learning hard to do
When was Salerno made?
10th century
How were lectures in the Middle Ages not very useful?
A butcher would stand and point at parts of the body while the lecturer read a text by an authoritative source
How did people in the Middle Ages/medieval times looks after themselves or recognise health was important ?
- the doctor alderotti advised people to stretch their limbs, wash their face, exercise and clean their teeth
- the popes doctor realised the importance of a good diet
- monasteries developed wash rooms, latrines with running sewers and fresh water
What happened in the Middle Ages that hadn’t happened since the roman times?
The first hospitals were built , e.g St Bartholemews in London
What was Vademecum?
‘Go with me’ - a urine chart which examined the colour smell and taste of the patients urine which helped a doctor guess what they might be suffering from
How did the training of doctors improve in the later Middle Ages?
Doctors had to train at universities and study for 7 years, then pass a verbal exam in order to become a doctor
How did doctors balance the 4 humours?
Blood letting, leeching, purging, taking hot baths, applying cool water