Approaches to prevention and disease

What was the continuity of treatment (humoral)

purging and bloodletting

What was the theory of transference?

disease could be transferred from patient to object as a form of treatment- rubbing warts with onion bel9ved to transfer it to the onion

what was change in treatment (new plants)

plants brought from America and other continents used for medical treatments, eg- cinchona bark to treat malaria and tobacco was a new remedy used for various illnesses, proving European physicians with various alternatives

what was change in treatments (chemistry)

Medical chemistry started, Paracelsus promoted minerals and chemicals in medicine like antimony, toxic but used for purging properties, showing change from herbal to chemical treatment

What was mercury used for?

treating syphilis

What forms was mercury taken in?

topical, ingestion and fumigation

What were dangers of mercury?

tooth loss, ulcers, brain damage, death due to mercury poisoning, mercury use slowly declined and safer treatments found

what was continuity in prevention? (regimen sanitatis)

key medieval concept, involving maintaining health from exercise, a good diet and sufficient sleep, guidelines aimed to balance 4 humours

what was continuity in prevention (religious practice)

prayers still used for prevention, illness viewed as moral failing thus spiritual actions like pilgrimages used as prevention

what was continuity in prevention (cleanliness)

importance of cleanliness persisted, bathing and clean environments were heavily promoted to prevent disease, continuing medical practice linking health with purity

what was change in prevention (miasma)

efforts to prevent disease with purifying air led by street sweeping, waste removal and drainage of swamps

define individual constitution

a person’s natural physical and mental character, thought to affect vulnerability to diseases

What did individual constitution encourage

personalized approach to prevention, considering individual’s unique characteristics when recommending diets, exercise and other preventive measures