Medieval Causes of Disease and Treatments

Question 1

Where and when was the first medical school established in Europe?

Answer 1

Salerno

10th Century

Question 2

What was teaching based on in the first medical school?

Answer 2

The work of Galen

No practical experience for students

Question 3

What did people believe caused disease in Medieval times?

Answer 3

Four Humours
Miasma
God
Developed belief in astrology

Question 4

What treatments were used during the Medieval times?

Answer 4

Blood letting
Herbs/ leechbooks
Stars
Flagellation
Prayer
Pilgrimages
Examining urine
Mentally ill beaten

Question 5

How did training of doctors develop during the Middle Ages?

Answer 5

Compulsory
Universities started to develop (Oxford in 1167/ Cambridge in 1209)
Would study Galen
Not allowed to study dissections as Church still controlled medicine

Question 6

Who controlled care of the sick in the Middle Ages?

Answer 6

The Church/ Monasteries

Question 7

What were the positive of the Church controlling care of the sick?

Answer 7

Believed in caring for all

Had good water supplies

Question 8

What were the negatives of the Church controlling care of the sick?

Answer 8

Only 10% cared for the sick- rest focussed on old and dying, lepers and shelter for travellers.
Focus on care- not treatment.

Question 9

What was St Bartholomew’s in London?

Answer 9

A purpose built hospital built in 1100

Question 10

What was the bezoar stone?

Answer 10

A stone found in the stomach of goats in Persia used as a treatment for disease

Question 11

How was astrology developed during the Middle Ages?

Answer 11

Linked to four humours, four elements

Avoided certain operations in certain zodiac signs

Question 12

When was the Black Death?

Answer 12

1348

Question 13

How much of the British population died during the Black Death?

Answer 13

One third

Question 14

What was the Black Death an outbreak of?

Answer 14

Bubonic Plague

Question 15

How was the bubonic plague spread?

Answer 15

Fleas on rats

Question 16

How did people who believed the plague was caused by God try to treat it?

Answer 16

Flagellants/ whipping themselves to show they were sorry

Question 17

Name 3 things people believed caused the Black Death

Answer 17

Unusual positioning of the planets
Poisonous fumes from volcanoes 
Miasma
Imbalance of 4 humours
Jews
Witches

Question 18

Name 4 treatments of the Black Death

Answer 18

Holding a piece of bread against the buboes then burying it
Fasting and praying
Eating cool things
Carrying herbs and spices
Flagellants
Cutting open buboes to drain pus
Lighting a fire in a room
Ringing bells
Not letting people enter the town or village from other places

Question 19

Who was responsible for treating the sick in the Middle Ages?

Answer 19

Physician
Apothecary
Barber- surgeon
Hospital
Housewife- physician
Prayer/ Pilgrimage

Question 20

How would a physician diagnose and treat patients?

Answer 20

Had medical training
Used urine and astrology
Treatment based on Galen- blood letting
EXPENSIVE/ Might not carry out treatment- leave it to barber- surgeon

Question 21

What did an apothecary do?

Answer 21

Mix ingredients to produce medicines/ ointments
Cheaper than physician
Has no formal training

Question 22

What was the role of a barber surgeon?

Answer 22

Blood letting
Lance boils
Pull rotten teeth
Basic surgery- low success rates!
Cut your hair!

Question 23

What was the role of a Housewife- physician?

Answer 23

Knew remedies for sore throats/ stomachs
Could deal with broken bones
Assist in childbirth
May use herbs or 'spells'
Could be Lady of Manor