Edexcel GCSE Medicine through time - c1250-c1500

What was Leprosy?

A painful skin disease which often led to paralysis and eventually dead.

What was the main response to Leprosy?

Lazar houses - people suffering from leprosy would be sent to them for quarantine since the disease was contagious and there was no cure

How was astrology used to diagnose illnesses?

A physician would consult star charts, from when a person was born and when they fell ill to help identify what was wrong

What were the 4 humours and characteristics were the traditionally attributed to?

• Blood - hot and wet

• Phlegm - watery substance coughed up or sneezed - cold and wet

• Black Bile - probably referred to clotted blood - cold and dry

• Choler - appeared in vomit - hot and dry

What were the main parts of the theory of the 4 humours?

• Each humour corresponded to a different season

• It was closely linked with astrology and star signs

• Certain personality traits linked with certain humours

Who came up with the theory of the 4 humours?

Hippocretes

Who developed the theory of the 4 humours in the theory of opposites?

Galen

What was the theory of opposites?

It was the idea that humours could be balanced out. It suggested that if someone was having a fever for example it could be balanced by having a cucumber

Why did Galen have such a huge impact on medieval teachings about medecine?

• Influence of the Church - the Church agreed with Galen’s ideas and monitored libraries so chose the texts that were public

• Galen’s work being read was seen as proof of someone being intelligent

• There was a lack of alternative explanations

What was the miasma theory at the time of Medieval England?

• bad air filled with harmful fumes

• It was associated with God

• A clean and sweet-smelling home was sign of cleanliness

• Whereas unclean homes were seen as a sign of corruption and sinfulness

What were urine charts?