Medieval Flashcards
What is the time scale of the medieval period
c.1250-1500
Supernatural causes of disease believed in Medieval period
-The devil sent his servants to spread the disease
-God sent it as punishment
How did people believe astrology was a cause of disease in the medieval period
-The planet and stars’ movement affects life on earth
-Star sign man (e.g. pisces meant no surgery on feet)
Why did the church cause a continuation of ancient ideas in medieval medicine
-Rich and powerful
-They supported ancient ideas
-They supported Galen’s theories because he said God had created the human body and soul
-Nobody dared to challenge his ideas and those who did were ignored/imprisoned
-Miasma was supported by the church
Why did the monarch cause ancient ideas to continue in Medieval England?
-Main concern was to defend his position and country from attack.
-No interest in using the country’s money to pay for medical care and research
Why did the lack of science and technology cause ancient ideas to continue in Medieval England
-Dissections largely banned by the church as they taught that the body needed to be buried whole so the soul could enter heaven
-Any dissections that did take place was on criminals and to better understand Galen’s work
-If any contradictions were found it was blamed on the body coming from a criminal
Why was new ideas not being encouraged causing ancient ideas to continue in Medieval England
-Universities key studying was on Galen
-Church taught that all of Galen’s work was correct
-Doctors not encouraged to think for themselves or challenge his ideas
How were enemas used as treatment in the medieval period
(4 humours) - Administered to relieve constipation when a laxative was enough
How was purging used as treatment in the medieval period
(4 humours) - If patients had too much yellow/black bile they were given mixture of bitter herbs and animal fats to make them vomit
-Or given a laxative (e.g. mallow leaves)
-Not effective but widely used
How was praying used as treatment/prevention in the medieval period
(God) - People regularly pray to God for forgiveness
-Wealthy made donations to church so prayers could be said for them
How were herbs used as preventatives in the medieval period
(Miasma) - Tried to keep homes smelling sweet and fresh with herbs (e.g. lavender and fresh rushes) on the floor
How was Galen’s opposites theory used as treatment in the medieval period
(4 humours) - Cold food and cold baths may be recommended to someone suffering from a fever
-Too cold may be prescribed blanc mangier (chicken and almond dish) as it was warming
How were fasting and candles used as treatment/preventative in the medieval period
(God) - Showing they are sorry for sins by lighting candles in church or fasting
How was bloodletting used as treatment in the medieval period
(4 humours) - If someone was thought to have too much bled they would cut a vein using a bronze cup (ancient) or leeches (new idea)
-Cup was heated and placed over an incision
-Leeches sucked the blood from a patient
-Caused more death than it prevented but still popular
How did the wealthy, poor and doctors use herbs as treatment in the medieval period
(Miasma) -Wealthy carry pomanders with them (locket of sweet smelling herbs
-The poor carried posies
-Doctors carried posies or oranges with them when visiting patients
How was a balanced used as prevented in the medieval period
(4 humours) - Doctors advised people to live a balanced lifestyle and avoid overeating and exercising regularly
How was bathing used as treatment in the medieval period
(Miasma) - Wealthy bathed in hot water regularly
-Poor would wash in rivers when possible
How was donating to church used as prevention in the medieval period
(God) - Wealthy individuals paid to make improvements in the towns such as piped water supplies and latrines to please God
How were pilgrimages used as a preventative in the medieval period
(God) - If a serious sin had been committed people would go on a pilgrimage to seek gods forgiveness. They went to holy shrines in hope that the saints could cure them
How was burning herbs used as prevention in the medieval period
-People lit fires with herbs to try and purify the air
-During black death plants such as juniper were burnt so their scent would fill a room
How were laws and the government used prevention in the medieval period
(Miasma) - Laws we’re passed to make streets cleaner
-In London you could be fine for throwing butchers blood or litter onto the streets
-In some towns rakers were employed to clear animal dung from streets and night carts went around emptying cesspit
-Remained unhealthy and dirty places as not enough money and organisation
How were herbal remedies used as treatment in the medieval period
-Passed through generations and women knew many off by heart.
-Recorded in books called ‘herbals’ which had precise instructions regarding the amounts of ingredients needed and correct preparation.
-Many included incantations or prayers to improve effectiveness
-Drunk, bathed in, smelt or applied to skin
Herbal remedy examples
-Boiling a fox and bathing in the same water to cure paralysis as the patient would take quick/nimble properties of fox
-Cure for throat abscess ; take a fat cat draw out guts, take grease of hedgehog, fat of a bear, fenugreek, sage and stuff the cat with it. Roast the cat and anoint the patient with the dripping
-Effective remedy for infection in cut and wounds ; honey, plantain, onion and garlic
-Cure for a style from herbal Bald’s Leechbook ; take onion and garlic, equal amounts and pound together, take wine and bulls gall and mix it with the onion and garlic
How was surgery used as treatment in the medieval period
- Basic as limited anatomical knowledge and effective ways to desl eiht pain, blood loss and infection.
-Wine and herbs (opium, hemlock) to make a patient drowsy. Too much could kill a patient. -Wine, vinegar or honey could be used to clean a wound but limited in antibacterial effect
-Removal of small surface tumours or foreign bodies, bleeding, splitting broken bones and amputation
-John Bradmore developed metal forceps to remove foreign bodies from a wound -cauterisation (hot irons) was used to stop bleeding by burning the wound shut.
-Catarct surgery where film over the eye could be removed with a sharp knife
Physicians experience and education in the medieval period
-Education ; University trained for 7 years which was controlled by church. They studied Galen, Hippocrates, Rhazes and Ibn Sina. Taught ancient ideas aswell astrology.
What care did physicians provide in the medieval era
-Gave advice on staying healthy (cleaning teeth and exercise etc)
-Gave diagnosis based on 4 humours, astrology and miasma
-Used an alamanac to help make right diagnosis (vein man, zodiac man and urine chart)
Why did physicians care for in the medieval period
-Wealthiest members of society
-In 1300 there were fewer than 100 physicians
What experience/education did women have in the medieval period
-No training, knowledge was passed in from older women in family
-Local wise woman had most knowledge and sold remedies
What care did women provide in the medieval era
-Made common remedies and use experience for treatments
-Prayers and incantations for preparation and application of remedy
-Wealthy educated women mixed herbal remedies using herbals
-Midwives to guide other women through childbirth
Who did women care for in the medieval period
Both rich and poor got care from women