Prehistoric medicine

Question 1

What evidence is there relating to prehistoric medicine?

Answer 1

1. Bones and cave paintings.

2. The lifestyles of modern day Aborigines in Australia a very similar to that of prehistoric people.

Question 2

What were the advantages of living as hunter- gatherers?

Answer 2

1. They ate lots of plants and berries that would have provided them with many vital nutrients.
2. They could not get any modern day illnesses relating to fast food, drinking and smoking.
3. They lived in one place for only a short period of time so there was no pile up of waste that could attract disease- carrying animals and insects. They could not pollute their water supply.

Question 3

What were the disadvantages of living as hunter- gatherers?

Answer 3

1. They caught rabies from hunting animals and their wounds often got infected due to a dirty environment.
2. They had to keep moving so they left the ill and injured behind. Sometimes, they even left babies behind if they could not look after them.
3. They got injured easily from hunting and fighting vicious animals.

Question 4

What were the advantages of living as farmers?

Answer 4

1. People were able to specialise in certain activities such as medicine. Medicine men specialised in fighting disease.
2. Food became less of a problem since they had stockpiles set up.

Question 5

What were the disadvantages of living as farmers?

Answer 5

1. Population size increased in certain areas so contagious diseases could spread easily.
2. Mice and rats moved in with humans and spread diseases.
3. Mosquitoes and other insects began to feed off humans. They spread disease.
4. People kept dogs, cattle, sheep and poultry close. Diseases from these animals quickly spread to humans.

Question 6

What did prehistoric people think was the cause of disease?

Answer 6

Evil spirits.

Question 7

What were some of the cures for disease in prehistoric times?

Answer 7

1. Trepanning (Drilling a hole in the head). Prehistoric people believed headaches were caused by evil spirits in the head. They believed drilling a hole in the head would release these evil spirits.
2. Lucky charms and amulets. Prehistoric people believed these would keep away disease causing spirits.
3. Witch doctors. These were men who cast spells, performed dances and rituals to drive away disease causing spirits.
4. Herbal remedies. Prehistoric people actually knew a bit about plants and which plants were good for treating which kinds of illnesses.

Question 8

Factors

Answer 8

Religion:
Prehistoric people blamed evil spirits for causing disease and performed rituals to drive away these spirits.
Doctors and Nursing:
Settling down meant people could specialise and become doctors.
Surgery:
Prehistoric people performed simple surgery such as trepanning.
Disease and treatments:
Simple natural and supernatural remedies.