medieval medicine Flashcards

1
Q

when was medieval times

A

c.1250- c.1500

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2
Q

why was the church important
7 reasons

A

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

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3
Q

where was learning in medieval Europe concentrated

A

the church

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4
Q

what was the church’s view of illness

A

many believed disease was punishment from sin or Satan or even god

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5
Q

what was the attitude to texts (Galen, Hippocrates) in medieval times

A

authoritative texts were accepted without question, even when there was evidence to show that they could be wrong

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6
Q

who cared for the sick
5 things

A

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

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7
Q

what did people think of Galens and Hippocrates work

A

they were considered the absolute truth

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8
Q

what was medieval medicine based on

A

mainly the theory of the 4 humours

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9
Q

what is the theory of the 4 humours
2 points

A

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

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10
Q

what progress was made within the 4 humours theory

A

it became more complex, taking in foods, clothing, the stars, when you were born, moods

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11
Q

what theory did Galen add to the 4 humours

A

the theory of the opposites

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12
Q

what was the theory of the opposites
2 points

A

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

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13
Q

what was human dissection like in medieval times
3 points

A

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

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14
Q

what happened as more and more medical schools sprang up

A

debates and research led to some doubt about classical texts

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15
Q

how were urine samples used to diagnose disease

A

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

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16
Q

what other things caused disease other than unbalanced humours

A

1) astrology- bad alignment of the stars and planets
2) miasmata- bad smelling air
3) punishment for sin

17
Q

why would you not go to a doctor in medieval times

A

they were expensive

18
Q

what did apothecaries do

A

they sold herbal remedies and sometimes advised on there use

19
Q

who were quack doctors

A

people without any real medical knowledge who sold medicine, sometimes doing more harm than good

20
Q

what was the role of superstition in medieval medicine

A

doctors consulted the stars and the alignment of the planets

21
Q

what was the status of surgeons

A

low, surgery was passed to low paid assistants or even barber surgeons

22
Q

what was a barber surgeon

A

a barber who would also do small surgeries such as blood letting

23
Q

why was surgery not more advanced

A

pain, bleeding and infection made surgery very risky