Treating Illness through time

Question 1

What did people believe about the power of the King’s hands during Medieval times (and, in fact, during the Renaissance too)?

Answer 1

As he was God’s representative, he would have the power to heal.

Question 2

Describe as precisely as you can, two popular treatments based on the four humours that were widely used in Medieval times and the Renaissance

Answer 2

Bleeding and purging.
Patients would be bled by cutting a vein, using leeches to suck blood or cupping.
Purging would involve and enema created by using herbs such as linseed and, in the Renaissance, coffee.

Question 3

Describe the growth of chemical chemistry as a new form of treatment in the Renaissance.

Answer 3

Chemical chemistry was made famous by Paracelsus in 1526 and became more popular in the 1600s. It involved experimenting with chemicals like arsenic, mercury and antimony.

Question 4

What was the name of the book published in 1618 that included details on 122 chemical treatments?

Answer 4

The Pharmacopoeia Londinensis

Question 5

What was discovered about antibodies in the late 19th century?

Answer 5

The body created these to fight off disease.

A successful chemical cure would need to be a man-made one of these.

Question 6

Name three chemical cures, in time order, developed in the 20th century.

Answer 6

Salvarsan 606
Prontosil
Penicillin.