Medieval medicine (Cause, Cure,
Prevention,Individuals,Treatment)
Causes
The Church – this was extremely powerful and did not want things to
change. They promoted Galen’s ideas because he believed in the idea
of a soul. This fit with the Church’s teachings. They controlled
medical learning as they were the ones that translated, copied, and
preached medical knowledge. They discouraged further learning.
Books – many people were illiterate during the medieval period. This
meant that well read physicians were extremely intellectual.
Understanding Hippocrates and Galen was more important than
developing knowledge.
Lack of alternatives – lack of scientific evidence to suggest that Galen
was wrong. Dissection was made illegal by the church and barber
surgeons would listen to physicians who read books to them to
perform surgery. They explained anything that went against Galen
meant that the person was a criminal.
Miasma – bad air was believed to have harmful fumes that would cause
disease.
Science and technology – little development during the medieval period.
Scientists tried to fit new discoveries with old theories. The
printing press was invented in 1440 which meant medical books could
be mass produced.
Treatment
Supernatural treatments – healing prayers and incantations, paying for
special mass to be done by the priest, fasting, pilgrimage, being
touched by the king, charms and amulets, alignment of the planets.
Natural treatments – bloodletting, purging, consuming tonics and foods,
bathing.
Prevention
The Church – lead a life free of sin. Regular prayers and confession
and offering tithes would wash away major sins.
Regimen Sanitatis – loose set of instructions to maintain good health.
This was only for the wealthy. Cleaning.
Bathing – thought to remove miasmas. Rich would bathe in hot clean
water, but poor people would used stewes which were public baths.
Diet – what and when you ate were seen as important to avoid an
imbalance.
Purifying air – most people avoided miasma by putting herbs in their
house. Local officials and noblemen would remove filthy public
toilets and outlaw rotting meats.
Prevention,Individuals,Treatment)
Causes
The Church – this was extremely powerful and did not want things to
change. They promoted Galen’s ideas because he believed in the idea
of a soul. This fit with the Church’s teachings. They controlled
medical learning as they were the ones that translated, copied, and
preached medical knowledge. They discouraged further learning.
Books – many people were illiterate during the medieval period. This
meant that well read physicians were extremely intellectual.
Understanding Hippocrates and Galen was more important than
developing knowledge.
Lack of alternatives – lack of scientific evidence to suggest that Galen
was wrong. Dissection was made illegal by the church and barber
surgeons would listen to physicians who read books to them to
perform surgery. They explained anything that went against Galen
meant that the person was a criminal.
Miasma – bad air was believed to have harmful fumes that would cause
disease.
Science and technology – little development during the medieval period.
Scientists tried to fit new discoveries with old theories. The
printing press was invented in 1440 which meant medical books could
be mass produced.
Treatment
Supernatural treatments – healing prayers and incantations, paying for
special mass to be done by the priest, fasting, pilgrimage, being
touched by the king, charms and amulets, alignment of the planets.
Natural treatments – bloodletting, purging, consuming tonics and foods,
bathing.
Prevention
The Church – lead a life free of sin. Regular prayers and confession
and offering tithes would wash away major sins.
Regimen Sanitatis – loose set of instructions to maintain good health.
This was only for the wealthy. Cleaning.
Bathing – thought to remove miasmas. Rich would bathe in hot clean
water, but poor people would used stewes which were public baths.
Diet – what and when you ate were seen as important to avoid an
imbalance.
Purifying air – most people avoided miasma by putting herbs in their
house. Local officials and noblemen would remove filthy public
toilets and outlaw rotting meats.
