Renaissance Medicine

Question 1

When was the Renaissance?

Answer 1

Between 1500-1650

Question 2

How did medicine improve scientifically during the renaissance ?

Answer 2

• inspired by Greek attitude of searching for knowledge and new ideas
• didn’t accept traditional ideas and wanted to learn through dissection and observation

Question 3

How did declining power of the church make medicine progress during renaissance?

Answer 3

1536, dissolution of monasteries

-allowed dissection

Question 4

How did new technology make medicine progress during the renaissance ?

Answer 4

• Printing press

- 1660s, small microscope

Question 5

What did people believe before Harvey and what discovery did he make ?

Answer 5

• Galen said body produced more blood to replace used blood and it may produce too much, which explained bloodletting
• Harvey said blood was pumped in circular motion and it was impossible to have too much as heart was in centre of body
• his ideas were rejected

Question 6

What did people believe before Vesalius and what discovery did he make ?

Answer 6

• Galen said human jaw was made up of two bones
• Vesalius performed dissections on executed criminals, in 1543, he published The Fabric of the Human Body which contained over 600 detailed anatomical drawings of human body, his ideas were spread by Geminus who produced an English version but most physicians didn’t have access

Question 7

What did people believe before Pare and what discovery did he make ?

Answer 7

• cauterisation, swallows wounds with hot iron, infection and painful
• 1536, pare tied wounds with a thread and treated it with egg yolk, chemical and oil of roses
• some English doctors used this
• most doctors couldn’t read his work

Question 8

What did people think caused be Great Plague ?

Answer 8

• Lord Mayor Rules said rubbish had to be cleared from streets and plagues victims were to be sealed to prevent spreading of disease
• MIASMA, Lord Mayor Rules stated that fires were to be lit to clean air, plague doctors wore masks filled with flowers
• prayer twice a week

Question 9

Who helped during the Great plague ?

Answer 9

LORD MAYOR RULES

• examiners found out who had plagues and marked an X on door
• watchmen made sure nobody went in
• PUBS CLOSED, UNGODLY
• quack doctors

Question 10

What impact did the Great plague have ?

Answer 10

Great fire of London which burned down much of city
People realised that dirt causes disease
London was rebuilt to make it more spacious and more hygienic