Medicine In medieval England c1250-c1500

Question 1

In medieval England what are the supernatural explanations for the causes of disease ?

Answer 1

• Astrology : the alignment of the planets and stars are used to diagnose illness
• Star Charts : look at when they were born and when they felt ill to help diagnose what was wrong

Question 2

What are the religious explanations for the causes of illness ?

Answer 2

• Punishment : Illness was sent as a form of punishment from God for sin
• Cleanse : Illness can be sent from God to cleanse the soul

Question 3

What are the rational explanations for the causes of illness ?

Answer 3

The theory of the four humours :

• Developed by the Hippocrates
• This theory suggested that the body was made up of 4 liquids - Blood,phlegm,black bile and yellow bile - An imbalance of one of these substances can cause disease

Miasma :
Bad air was believed to be harmful
Rotting matter transmits disease

Question 4

What was the theory that supports the theory of the 4 humours and who came up with it ?

Answer 4

The theory of opposites

Galen

Question 5

What is the religious approach to treatment and prevention?

Answer 5

Praying
Fasting
Flagellation
Pilgrimages

Question 6

What are the supernatural treatments and preventions ?

Answer 6

Treatments : 
Cutting vein 
Leeches to the skin 
Purging 
Herbal remedies 
Preventions : 
The regimen sanitatis 
Purify air

Question 7

When was the Black Death and what was it also know as ?

Answer 7

The bubonic plague

1348-1349

Question 8

What were the beliefs about the causes of the bubonic plague?

Answer 8

• God sent punishment for sins
• Unusual alignment of the planets
• Imbalance of the humours
• Miasma from a volcano or earthquake

Question 9

What was the approach to treatment towards the bubonic plague ?

Answer 9

• Confessed sins
• Wore holy charms
• The theory of opposites in order to rebalance the humours
• Victim would sniff strong herbs to replace the bad air
• Light fires to remove the bad air

Question 10

What was the approach to preventing the Black Death ?

Answer 10

Pray
Procession order by the King in churches everyday
Pilgrimages
Flagellants
Houses of victims were quarantined
Carried sweet smelling herbs
Reduced waste on the streets - butchers had separate areas to put their waste or faced punishment