Medieval Britain c.1250 - 1500 Flashcards
- What medical ideas from the Ancient World did people use in Medieval times?
I. Hippocrates ‘Theory of the Four Humours’ and Galen’s ‘Theory of Opposites’.
II. The idea that the planets healing your health
- What power did the Catholic Church over people’s lives c.1250?
The church controlled education and people had to pay it lots of taxes. People felt if they went against the Church they would go to hell.
- Why did people believe God caused illness?
People in medieval England were very religous - they received the majority of their information from the Catholic Church. There was no real scientific knowledge that could be used to challenge the Church.
- How did people link illness to the planets?
Physicians would consult star charts, looking at when a person was born and when they became ill, to identify what was wrong. Bad alignment of the planets was said to cause illness.
- How did people think the ‘four humours’ could make you sick?
If your humours became unbalanced you would fall ill. Humours could be affected by the seasons or by the planets being out of line.
- What illnesses were connected to which humours?
I. Coughs and colds were connected to having too much phlegm, particularly in winter.
II. Fevers were connected to having too much blood, causing a high temperature and rashes on the skin.
III. Depression/constipation was linked to having a build-up of black bile.
- How did people use urine charts to diagnoses illness?
Physicians would test colour, thickness, smell and taste of the urine then compare it to the chart to make a diagnosis and advise oh how to balance the humours.
- How did people think miasma could make you sick?
I. Miasma was believed to be bad air filled with harmful fumes from swamps. corpses and other rotting matter which would spread diseases.
II. They also connected miasma to God, suggesting that a clean and sweet-smelling home was a sign of spiritual cleanliness.
- What did people believe you could do to encourage God to make you better?
I. say special prayers and healing spells called incantations.
II. Go on a religious journey called pilgrimages and make sacrafises to God
III. More extreme forms of treatment came in the form of flagellants, who would whip themselves publically to say sorry their sins / for angering God.
- According to the Regimen Sanitatis, what did you need to do before washing yourself?
You should always pray before having a bath. They also advised to avoid stress and try to exercise.
- What did people believe about the King’s role in being able to heal people?
The King could cure scrofula by touching the sick person with holy oil to make them better.
- What were common herbal remedies and where could people read about them?
I. Aloe vera to aid digestion, as well as mint, chamomile, rose oil, almonds, saffron and absinthe.
II. Books such as the Meteria Medica (by to Roman Dioscorides) and Circa Instans (published in the 12th century) both recommended which herbs, spices and plants to use to treat illness.
III. Therica was the most popular herbal remedy and was a mix of 70 herbs and spices.
- What job did an apothecary have?
Apothecaries mixed herbal remedies and had a good knowledge of the healing power of plants. People went to them instead of doctors, who were too expensive.
What was a barber-surgeon?
Barber-surgeons performed small surgeries, pulled teeth and bled patients. Their main job was hairdressing.
How safe and professional was surgery? Give 2 examples.
I. Some surgeons were highly trained and professional.
II. Skilled surgeons could set broken limbs, remove arrows from wounds and perform cataract operations.
