Medieval medical standstill: medieval medicine Flashcards
What did people in the medieval era believe about how God affected illness and disease?
- if a person was leading a sinful life than an illness was Gods way of punishing them for their sins.
- Doctrine of signatures: God created illness but he also created a cure through herbs and plants.
- if society as a whole was being sinful, or moving away from the path of religion and Pope the an epidemic or plague was sent by God to remind people of their duties to the church.
What did people in the medieval era believe about how bad smells affected illness and disease?
Some people thought bad smells caused diseases. This particularly affected towns and where people lived along side their animals and their filth.
What did people in the medieval era believe about how the supernatural affected illness and disease?
- witch craft was feared and many believed the world was full of demons trying to cause trouble and death.
- mystery and the supernatural world were used by some to explain illness or death or general misfortune.
How did every day life contribute to the understanding of illness/disease/death in the medieval era?
Most people believed that illness and early deaths were inevitable. Mortality rates among children were very high as well as maternal mortality rate.
Accidents, warfare and famine were frequent.
What did people on the medieval era believe about The Four Humours?
They believed people got ill when the Four Humours were out of balance.
What methods of diagnosis were often used in medieval era?
- urine sample
- astrological chart and information.
When were medical schools forts set up?
12th century
Who treated patients/the ill?
Barber surgeons, doctors, midwives, apothecaries.
What was the role of women in the medieval era when it came to treating the ill?
It was extremely Rae for their to be a female physician. One female physician called Tortula taught at a university in the 12th century.
How was dissection used in medical schools to teach students and what were the disadvantages?
Students didn’t do any dissection themselves. They got all their knowledge from Galen’s writings. They hoped by 1340 they would be able to do 1 dissection a year. As dissection was carried out students could only watch and listen.
How were textbooks and teachings used in medical schools to teach students and what were the disadvantages?
Old manuscripts by Galen were used and translated to use for lectures as well as manuscripts form Muslim, Chinese and Indian worlds.
Students never actually got to use the manuscripts/books S they took too long to copy and couldn’t afford to be lost or damaged. Instead they would read passages which students debated. They had to be carful want they said as the church (universities sponsor) would not allow criticism of Galen.
How was diagnosis used in medical schools to teach students and what were the disadvantages?
They learned how to diagnose an illness mainly through the theory if the Four Humours. Also taught how to examine patients urine against a chart.
However, they never saw any patients while studying, they only studies theory. Diagnosing real patients had to wait until they were a qualified physician.
How were The Four Humours used in medical schools to teach students?
The theory of the Four Humours came form the Ancient Greek world. Each element was strongest in a specific season with specific quantities.
How were astrological used in medical schools to teach students?
They were taught to use astrological charts so that they could work out the position of planets wife deciding the best treatment. The astrological chart tells us which part of the body links to which astrological sign. It would also tell them the best time to treat patients.
How was bleeding used in medical schools to teach students?
This was important because it was key in keeping the the body’s Humours in balance. They were taught to bleed using both the bleeding cup and teachers.