medieval medicine Flashcards
when was medieval times
c.1250- c.1500
why was the church important
7 reasons
1) gave basic education, mostly about Christianity
2) taught illness came from sin/ religious reasons
3) used tithes to help care for destitute
4) place for key celebrations: weddings, deaths, easter
5) common people relied on priests to interpret the bible
6) divine right
7) they had special courts for minor offences
where was learning in medieval Europe concentrated
the church
what was the church’s view of illness
many believed disease was punishment from sin or Satan or even god
what was the attitude to texts (Galen, Hippocrates) in medieval times
authoritative texts were accepted without question, even when there was evidence to show that they could be wrong
who cared for the sick
5 things
1) mainly the church at monasteries
2) women looked after sick family at home
3) barber surgeons- provided treatments
4) apothecaries- provided treatments
5) physicians- provided diagnosis recommended treatments
what did people think of Galens and Hippocrates work
they were considered the absolute truth
what was medieval medicine based on
mainly the theory of the 4 humours
what is the theory of the 4 humours
2 points
1) the four humours were: phlegm, yellow bile, black bile, blood.
2) the theory is that in certain seasons these humours would become unbalanced and cause you to be sick
what progress was made within the 4 humours theory
it became more complex, taking in foods, clothing, the stars, when you were born, moods
what theory did Galen add to the 4 humours
the theory of the opposites
what was the theory of the opposites
2 points
1) the idea that the four humours could be rebalanced using the opposite of the humours
2) for example phlegm could be balanced by eating hot peppers
what was human dissection like in medieval times
3 points
1) dissection of people was not accepted by the church and was banned.
2) sometimes medical schools were allowed to dissect the bodies of criminals but results were only interpreted in line with what Galen and Hippocrates said
3) if anything was found that went against what they said, people said it was because it was a criminal
what happened as more and more medical schools sprang up
debates and research led to some doubt about classical texts
how were urine samples used to diagnose disease
1) physicians thought it was the best way to check on the balance of the humours inside the body
2) they would check the colour, thickness and smell of urine before making a diagnosis
what other things caused disease other than unbalanced humours
1) astrology- bad alignment of the stars and planets
2) miasmata- bad smelling air
3) punishment for sin
why would you not go to a doctor in medieval times
they were expensive
what did apothecaries do
they sold herbal remedies and sometimes advised on there use
who were quack doctors
people without any real medical knowledge who sold medicine, sometimes doing more harm than good
what was the role of superstition in medieval medicine
doctors consulted the stars and the alignment of the planets
what was the status of surgeons
low, surgery was passed to low paid assistants or even barber surgeons
what was a barber surgeon
a barber who would also do small surgeries such as blood letting
why was surgery not more advanced
pain, bleeding and infection made surgery very risky
