medieval medicine Flashcards
Ideas about the causes of disease in the medieval period
Supernatural/religious explanations
Theory of the four humours
Miasma
When was the black death?
1348-1349
When was the printing press invented?
1450’s
when was the medieval period?
1250-1500
what was the name of Hippocrates’ theory?
the theory of the four humours
what was the theory of the four humours?
the belief that the human body is made up of four elements which must be balanced in order for a person to be healthy
what was Galen’s theory?
the theory of opposites
what was the theory of opposites?
Theory of Opposites and suggested that if you had too much phlegm (cold and wet), you should eat hot peppers (hot and dry) and the way to cure an illness was by using something of the opposite humour
what practioners were around in the medieval period?
family members physicians apothecary barber-surgeon wise woman monks and nuns
give two examples of hospitals in the medieval period
leper houses
monasteries
what did a lot of people believe caused the black death?
a lot of people thought that the black death was god punishing them for their sins
name four ways people tried to avoid catching the black death
Flagellants would whip themselves
people would carry herbs and spices to smell.
Some tried cleaning the rubbish from the streets
Some villages/towns quarantined themselves and would not let people from other places enter.
How did people try to treat the great plague?
praying.
Bloodletting or purging was a common treatment in this period and was used to rebalance a victim’s humours.
How did people try to treat the black death?
praying.
Bloodletting or purging was a common rebalance a victim’s humours.
Other more superstitious treatments were used.
Approaches to prevention and treatment in the medeival period
Bloodletting, purging, purifying air
Hospital care, monasteries
Seeing physicians
Prayers
