The Medical Renaissance (KT2) Flashcards
List 8 specific differences between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance causing much more change creating progression in Medicine.
- In the Renaissance people asked more questions and thought scientific
- They experimented in the renaissance.
- They dissected human bodies not just animals
- Printing Press was developed
- Scholars were there
- The Reformation happened
- The royal society was established
Scholars
Rejected the idea that the church was the source of all knowledge.
The Reformation
Movement accused by the Catholic church of being to powerful and corrupt.
What was Vesalius’s background?
Family were physicians.
Why was printing so important to the progress of medicine during the Medical Renaissance? ( 7 reasons )
- Vesalius published a book about his findings.
- Spread knowledge and ideas
- Changed the nature and speed of what was published
- Translations
- Difficult for the church to control
- Allows accurate ideas to be spread
- Challenges and proves Galen’s wrong
Name of Vesalius’ book.
Fabrica - Fabric of human body
In 1540 Vesalius…
Did a full public dissection at a university
IN 1543 Vesalius….
Published his book Fabrica.
4 achievements of Vesalius’
- Corrected 200 of Galen’s mistakes
e. g location of the kidneys and major organs, nerves, muscles placements - Able to dissection without method of imbarment
- He laid down the foundation for Harvey about proper anatomy and he also improved understanding of the human body.
- Published his book Fabrica in 1543
4 limitations of Vesalius’
- Doesn’t discuss circulation of the blood.
- Doesn’t look into disease or germs
- People said he was wrong the body had changed and people just refused to believe him
- Body snatching = was illegal and was look down upon because it went against the church which was still influential at the time.
Early Renaissance
Art, Anatomy, Books, Printing, Vesalius, Voyages, Questioning of church
Later Renaissance
Scientific, Plague 1665, challenge to Church, Harvey, Royal Society
Identify 8 ways in which science shaped the Medical Renaissance
- The method of deductive reasoning - Physicians learnt how to make a deduction from their patients symptoms and to diagnose what was wrong = reasons for why everything happened
- 17th century scientist had a new view/ attitude on the human body.
- Galileo’s work on telescope meant increased knowledge about lenses
- Anton van Leeuwenhoek = microscope - the observation of the largest bodies, the stars and planets, led directly to knowledge about the smallest bodies, cells and bacteria.
- Harvey encouraged his student to do human dissection
- Royal Society aimed at the improvement of natural knowledge
- The printing press
- Chain of development - one discovery could be followed up by others connected to it.
In 1628 Harvey…
Wrote his book motion of heart and blood
In 1676 Thomas Sydneham….
Published his book medical observations
3 achievements of Harvey’s’
- Corrected Galen’s mistakes
e. g Galen said the blood was created in the liver, Harvey found it was in the heart and it circulated around the body. - Laid foundation for blood test, blood transfusion and transplants.
- Had used Vesalius’s method of dissection, observation and detailed drawings.
3 Limitations of Harvey’s
- Still haven’t found out about germs.
- Harvey’s discoveries were only gradually accepted
- Harvey’s discover didn’t make anyone better.
Why was the Royal society important to the progress of medicine during the Medical Renaissance? ( 4 reasons)
- Brought together scientist to share and build on ideas.
- Published books and articles to spread ideas
- Finical support from King Charles 2 to find medical and scientific knowledge
- Challenged traditional ideas
Why was Sydenham’s work significant? ( 3 reasons)
- Placed great importance of careful observation
- Detailed description on many illness = scarlet fever
- Published his book ‘Medical Observation’
What did Sydenahm not figure out?
A theory of what caused disease.
Explain one similarity in the Government and the physicians response to the Great Plague with the Black Death.
- Punishment from God
- Miasma
What was the theory of transference?
That an illness or diseases could be transferred to something else.
What was iatrochemistry?
People looked for chemical cures for diseases instead of relying on herbs and bloodletting.
Transference
- People believed that if you rubbed an object on an aliment ( such as a boil) the disease would transfer from you to the object
- They believed you could get rid of warts by rubbing them with an onion
iatrochemistry
- Experimented with metals as cures for common aliments.
- 2140 remedies with 122 different chemical preparations, including mercury and antimony
- Antimony promotes sweating, which cools down the body
Used to encourage vomiting however is poisonous in its pure form.
Why did Harvey’s work gain publicity and credibility?
He was the royals physician
Provide a key idea that was contained in Observations Medicae (1676)
Observe patients and record results
When did the Great Plague take place?
1665
What was a new idea about the cause of the Great Plague?
- Cats and dogs
- Transference
Who were quack doctors?
Unqualified doctors
Identify 3 new treatments that emerged in the Medical Renaissance
- Transference
- New herbal treatment
- Chemical cures and treatments
Why had herbal treatments emerged?
Travel to American bringing in new cures
Why had chemical cures and treatment emerged?
There was now a greater culture of experimental with science
Why had transference emerged?
Didn’t know/ understand why they were actually ill.
Physicians move away from the four humours but…
Doesn’t reflect the rest of society.
Continuation for Apothecaries and surgeons
They were still not given university training and were still considered inferior to physicians and cheaper
Continuity for physicians
- They were still trained at universities and the training lasted for many years.
- Training was still based on learning from textbooks rather than practical experience.
Change for Apothecaries and surgeons
- Both were better trained through being in guild systems, where they were apprentices then journeymen before becoming masters.
- A licence was now needed to work as an apothecary or surgeon and these were only issued after completing training.
Change Physicians
- There was better access to a wider variety of medical books and detailed drawings due to the printing press.
- Dissections was legalised but took time to become commonplace.
- New ideas about anatomy and causes of disease inspired some physicians to become more practical and experimental
