Medieval Causes Flashcards
Why did people think God sent diseases?
- To punish sin
- To cleanse the soul
- To test faith
What were the 4 humours?
- Black Bile
- Yellow Bile
- Blood
- Phlegm
What was the theory of opposites?
If someone has symptoms, give them the opposite (e.g. if someone has an excess of “hot” blood, give them a “cold” cucumber)
Who first thought of the 4 humours?
Hippocrates
What is Miasma?
The idea that poisonous/bad air could spread illness
Which two philosophers first wrote about Miasma and what did they think?
Hippocrates and Galen both wrote about miasma and thought that swamps, corpses and other rotting things spread illness
What is Astrology in the context of medicine?
Studying the stars and planets for the purpose of treating illness
What was a Zodiac Man?
A diagram of a man with astrological depictions inside that was used to locate where on the body to treat someone (based on your birth)
What is Leprosy?
A disease prevalent in the medieval period that caused internal and external ulcers, loss of extremities (finger, toes etc.), paralysis and death
How were lepers treated?
Like stray dogs, living isolated and occasionally in leper colonies, and not being allowed to walk down narrow alleys (people thought it could be spread through your breath)
How did people treat “god-sent” diseases?
- Pray
- Go on pilgrimages
- Accept it as God’s will
