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The Fabric of the Human Body
1543 book by Vesalius. Showed how the human body worked. Highly Illustrated - new for the time period.
An Anatomical Account of the Motion of the Heart and Blood
1628 book by Harvey. Explained how the circulatory system worked.
1645
First Meeting of the Royal Society
1436
Printing press began to be built
1518
Royal college of Physicians set up
1665
The Great Plague in London
The King’s Touch
It was believed that being touched by the King could cure some diseases such as scrofula, as the King was the closest person to God.
Renaissance
A time of change. Spread of new ideas, and the re-emergence of Greek and Roman ideas and culture. Challenging old ideas and religion.
Thomas Sydenham
Qualified doctor
Believed in observation and record-keeping
Developed the concept of ‘Species of Diseases’ - identifying the disease and using the corresponding treatment.
Believed in letting the body try to fight disease first before purging or bloodletting.
Published ‘Observations Medicae’ in 1676 - became a standard textbook for medicine for 200 years.
The Royal Society
A group of scientists established in 1645. MEt weekly to discuss new ideas in science and medicine
King Charles endorsed & attended meetings
Published a well-respected journal ‘Philosophical Transactions’
Reasons the Renaissance happened
New technology e.g printing press
Key individuals e.g. Vesalius, Harvey and Sydenham
Royal Society
reformation & societal shift away from religion
Vesalius
Physician who researched the human body, performed dissections and corrected many of Galen’s errors.
Made the study of anatomy respected and fashionable
Published ‘Fabric of the Human Body’, used to teach doctors by 1560
Example of his discovery: that men did not have one fewer pair of ribs (like the Bible suggested)
William Harvey
Physician who discovered how lbood moved around the body
Physician to King James I and Charles I, lecturerer
Dissproved Galen’s theory that the liver made blood to replace blood lost
Wrote 1628 book ‘On the Motion of the Heart and Blood’
Explained the function of valves in veins and the heart; how blood didn’t move through the septum of the heart; blood didn’t contain air bubbles
Summarise Vesalius, Harvey, and Sydenham
Vesalius - anatomy & dissections
Harvey - Blood and circulatory system
Sydenham - Disease classification and treatment of patients
The Great Plague
1665 in London
Killed 100,000 - 25% of London population
Miasma was blamed - like the Black Death 1348
Improvements since 1348: quarantine introduced, local governments more involved, bodies collected and buried 6 feet deep, plague doctors used protective clothing, trade & communal gatherings banned
Treatments included bloodletting, smoking and moving out of the city
Royal College of Physicians
set up in 1518
trained doctors and gave them licenses
Distinguished doctor between trained and untrained - made getting treatment safer
Prevention of disease key ideas
Not much change from the Medieval Era.
Religion, purifying the air, fasting & keeping the humours balanced
Leading a generally healthy lifestyle became popular - healthy diet & protecting the vulnerable.
Treatment of disease key points
A lot of continuity from Medieval era - bloodletting, herbal remedies, removing bad air
New treatments included going to a hospital for treatment, finding chemical treatments rather than herbal
New ingredients for medicine discovered due to world exploration - e.g. tobacco, coffee, quinine
Transference
New idea that disease can be transferered to something else i.e. contagious diseases
Causes of disease - key ideas
Lot of continuity with Medieval Era - religion, miasma, 4 humours
New idea called transference, that disease could be spread from one thing to another. Early understanding of contagious diseases.
Care for the sick
Physicians & doctors - university qualified so provided the most up-to-date care. Very expensive
Surgeons. Became more qualified than medieval barber surgeons. Now had to be licensed by local bishops.
Apothecaries - prescribed herbal (and some chemical) remedies
Midwifery became more regulated and licensed.
Wise women & housewives - used herbal remedies and superstition, not trained but well trusted.
Travelling quacks - became more prominent as more people travelled between towns. Would provide medicine and basic surgery, but many were unqualified and only in it for the money.
Hospitals
Before Renaissance - run by monks/nuns - provided shelter, food and prayer but no medical help
Renaissance - looked after the poor. Kept people clean, warm and well-fed. Patients given herbal remedies. Basic surgery & bloodletting carried out
Hospitals began to accept patients with contagious diseases
Hospitals now run by qualified doctors, nursing sisters, and surgeons.
