Medicine in medieval period Flashcards
What years were the medieval period?
1250-1500
Who was often believed to be responsible for sending diseases?
The devil
How did the Church explain famine and illness?
Said that it was sent from God to punish people for their sins
How did astrology affect medicine?
It was thought the positions of the planets and stars were important when diagnosing illness. A physician would use star charts to determine what was wrong
What are the 4 liquids that were thought to make up the body and what was the theory called?
Theory of the four humours
.blood
.black bile- clotted blood in pop or vomit
.yellow bile- pus or vomit
.phlegm- watery substance coughed or sneezed out of nose
How did the theory of the four humours explain why a person was ill?
All humours should be balanced. If the mix became unbalanced, a person would become ill.
Which humours matched with which seasons, elements and qualities?
Blood- spring, air, hot and wet
Yellow bile- summer, fire, hot and dry
Black bile- autumn, earth, cold and dry
Phlegm- winter, ice, cold and wet
If someone had a fever what did they have too much of?
blood
If someone had a cold, what did they have too much of?
phlegm
If you were depressed, what did you have too much of?
black bile
Who came up with the theory of four humours?
Hippocrates
Who is Galen and what did he do?
A physician in Ancient Rome who developed Hippocrates’ ideas of the four humours to create the theory of opposites.
What is the theory of opposites?
You can balance out the humours by using something that was opposite.
Give 2 examples of theory of opposites
. Too much phlegm was linked to water and cold so could be cured by eating hot pepper
. A patient with fever (linked to blood and heat) could be cooled by cucumber
Explain 3 reasons why the Four Humours were popular in the Middle Ages
- The role of the Church
-because he believed in the soul, which fitted in with their beliefs. Since the Church controlled all books and education, their texts about Galen were the only ones widely taught. - Lack of alternatives
-dissections not allowed (Church say body should be buried to go the Heaven) so physicians could not look for themselves - Importance of book learning
-few people could read including physicians. They would read many of Galen’s work without questioning these ancient books
What was miasma?
Belief that bad air caused disease. Hippocrates and Galen wrote about this.
How did religion encourage people to have good smelling air?
A clean, sweat smelling home was a sign of religion cleanliness. A foul smelling house suggested sinfulness.
How did urine help diagnose diseases?
Medieval physicians had urine charts. They would check the colour, thickness, smell and taste to check balance of four humours.
How did the Church contribute to continuity about beliefs of disease between 1250 and 1500.
-Church did not like change
-Church liked ideas of Four Humours as it fit with their beliefs so only let people read Hippocrates and Galen’s work
How did science and technology contribute to continuity about beliefs of disease between 1250 and 1500.
-scientists explained any new discoveries using old ideas
-printing press was created making it easier to print medical books on Four Humours
-technology did not change medieval ideas
