Medieval medicine: healers and hospitals Flashcards
Who treated most illnesses in medieval England?
Women
Give three examples of things women could do as healers in medieval England
Act as midwives
Work as apprentice surgeons
Grow plants for use in herbal remedies
What could women NOT do in medieval England?
Go to university to train as a physician
What did an apothecary do in medieval England?
Make ointments and medicines for physicians
How did apothecaries learn?
They learned from other apothecaries
Give an example of a herbal manual an apothecary might use
Materia Medica
Why did more people see an apothecary compared to a physician?
They were cheaper (and there were more of them)
Why did the Church disapprove of apothecaries?
They sometimes used supernatural remedies, like amulets and charms
What did physicians do in medieval England?
Diagnosing illnesses and recommending treatments
How would a physician use a urine chart?
They would compare a patient’s urine with a urine chart - including the colour, thickness, smell and taste
Why were physicians NOT allowed to dissect bodies?
The Church banned dissection
For how long did physicians study at university?
Seven years
Whose books did physicians read at university?
Hippocrates, Galen and Arab writers
Give an example of a textbook physicians used to learn about medicine
The Articella
How many physicians were there in England in 1300?
Around 100
How did medieval surgeons train?
They observed other surgeons and read books on surgery
What surgeries could medieval surgeons carry out?
Surgeries on the OUTSIDE of the body, such as sewing up wounds, pulling teeth, blood-letting and amputating limbs
How did John of Arderne influence medieval surgery?
He began to use dressings to aid the healing process
What was the most influential medieval textbook on surgery?
Grande Chirurgie, written by Guy de Chauliac in 1363
When did the first hospitals appear in England?
The 11th century
Who ran medieval hospitals?
The Church
What three things did medieval hospitals provide for patients?
Food, warmth and prayers
Why were priests available for patients in a medieval hospital?
To read them the last rites and prepare the patient for a good death
Did hospitals admit the sick? Why/why not?
NO - they offered CARE NOT CURE - they did not want patients to spread infection
How many hospitals were there by 1400 in England?
Over 500
How many beds did most hospitals have in England by 1400?
5 or 6
Give two examples of famous medieval hospitals
St Bartholomew’s
St Thomas’s
Some smaller hospitals were set up from the 13th century. Who did they care for?
Members of guilds (people from the same trade, like shoemakers and silversmiths)
