Focus Questions: How far/why did methods of caring for the sick
change?
KEY THINGS TO MENTION:
- What was the cause of change/continuity in methods? (improved knowledge, NHS etc.)
- What were the methods of care? (surgery, herbal remedies, medical testing etc.)
- Who cared for the sick? (The Church, physicians, hospitals etc.)
- Give specific examples/dates/facts linked to the methods (e.g. NHS introduced 1948)
MEDIEVAL PERIOD – little change
1) The Church was the centre of care and controlled hospitals → hospitality would
only be offered to the old, poor and travellers according to Bible teachings.
Many hospitals were housed in monasteries and nunneries, where it was
taught that Jesus’ example of caring for the sick must be followed – emphasis
was mostly on God and healing souls, rather than medical treatment
People with infectious or incurable diseases usually wouldn’t be admitted as
these were places of recuperation rather than treatment – provided fresh
food and rest for pilgrims and travellers
Some hospitals were built for infectious diseases, but this was rare – wards
were cramped and the risk of infection wasn’t understood as the focus was
on God rather than sanitation and training
2) It was difficult to access physicians due to their high cost and limited numbers →
care mainly restricted to the wealthy.
Only 100 physicians existed in 1300s as their training took 7 years to
complete – taught to believe that Hippocrates and Galen were right in every
detail, meaning they couldn’t experiment or think for themselves
Physicians learnt from textbooks rather than practical experience, meaning
care wasn’t up-to-date and traditional ideas weren’t challenged
Physicians rarely treated patients in the first place – would send them to a
barber surgeon or apothecary, or simply observe their symptoms such as
pulse, skin colour and urine (consulted vademecum)
3) Little care was available for the poor who needed it most → opportunities were
unequal as they could only receive basic care in their homes if they were lucky.
While barber-surgeons and apothecaries cost less than a physician, they
were still expensive – also unsafe as barbers had no training. They would
perform basic surgeries with limited success and lance boils, while
apothecaries had training but no medical qualification
People would often turn to the village wise women who would provide care
for free (often Lady of the Manor) – women forbidden to receive training so
would use traditional herbal remedies with ingredients such as honey, which
is still used today
RENAISSANCE PERIOD – big change
1) Physicians became more practical and experimental which improved knowledge
and care → new inventions such as the printing press gave better access to a wider
variety of knowledge.
change?
KEY THINGS TO MENTION:
- What was the cause of change/continuity in methods? (improved knowledge, NHS etc.)
- What were the methods of care? (surgery, herbal remedies, medical testing etc.)
- Who cared for the sick? (The Church, physicians, hospitals etc.)
- Give specific examples/dates/facts linked to the methods (e.g. NHS introduced 1948)
MEDIEVAL PERIOD – little change
1) The Church was the centre of care and controlled hospitals → hospitality would
only be offered to the old, poor and travellers according to Bible teachings.
Many hospitals were housed in monasteries and nunneries, where it was
taught that Jesus’ example of caring for the sick must be followed – emphasis
was mostly on God and healing souls, rather than medical treatment
People with infectious or incurable diseases usually wouldn’t be admitted as
these were places of recuperation rather than treatment – provided fresh
food and rest for pilgrims and travellers
Some hospitals were built for infectious diseases, but this was rare – wards
were cramped and the risk of infection wasn’t understood as the focus was
on God rather than sanitation and training
2) It was difficult to access physicians due to their high cost and limited numbers →
care mainly restricted to the wealthy.
Only 100 physicians existed in 1300s as their training took 7 years to
complete – taught to believe that Hippocrates and Galen were right in every
detail, meaning they couldn’t experiment or think for themselves
Physicians learnt from textbooks rather than practical experience, meaning
care wasn’t up-to-date and traditional ideas weren’t challenged
Physicians rarely treated patients in the first place – would send them to a
barber surgeon or apothecary, or simply observe their symptoms such as
pulse, skin colour and urine (consulted vademecum)
3) Little care was available for the poor who needed it most → opportunities were
unequal as they could only receive basic care in their homes if they were lucky.
While barber-surgeons and apothecaries cost less than a physician, they
were still expensive – also unsafe as barbers had no training. They would
perform basic surgeries with limited success and lance boils, while
apothecaries had training but no medical qualification
People would often turn to the village wise women who would provide care
for free (often Lady of the Manor) – women forbidden to receive training so
would use traditional herbal remedies with ingredients such as honey, which
is still used today
RENAISSANCE PERIOD – big change
1) Physicians became more practical and experimental which improved knowledge
and care → new inventions such as the printing press gave better access to a wider
variety of knowledge.
