1250-1500; Medieval England

Who came up with the Theory of the 4 humours? What are their names?

-Hippocrates created theory
-Black bile, choler, phlegm, Blood

What was a natural way that people thought caused disease from 1250-1500?

The 4 humours were imbalanced

What was a supernatural way that people thought caused disease from 1250-1500?

The Stars and Planets were misaligned, charts told physicians the best time to carry out treatment

What's the term for 'bad air' and how did people think it caused disease 1250-1500?

Miasma- it was believed to be full of harmful fumes

What were the two main places to go for care in 1250-1500?

1. The home- Women cared for and treated family members, the vast majority of people were treated at home

2. Hospitals- provided CARE NOT CURE. 30% in England were funded by the church, rest were funded by an endowment

What were humoural treatments for disease, 1250-1500?

Blood letting (leaches), Purging (poison), Basically getting rid of or getting more humours

Natural causes of the black Death?

Miasma- the air in England is impure, it's getting into peoples body and unbalancing their humours

When was the Black Death?

1348-49

Natural treatments/preventions of the Black Death?

Treatment- bleeding, purging, strong herbs to drive away miasma
Prevention- escape the city, carry a posy of flowers/herbs

Religious approaches to treatment of disease, 1250-1500?

1. Prayers and incarnations 2. Paying for a special mass 3. fasting 4. pilgrimages

Religious ideas about cause of disease, 1250-1500?

1. God sent disease as a punishment for sins
2. Sent by devil to test faith
3. Sin was taught to be dangerous; the church controlled everyday life

Religious ideas about the cause of the black death?

1. God is deserting mankind, the plague is punishment for mankind's sin- because priests were by the sicks bedsides as they died, priests died in large numbers, backing up this claim

Religious treatments/preventions for the Black Death?

Treatment: Confess your sins and pray
Prevention: Pray, self-flagellate, go on a pilgrimage

Supernatural approaches to the treatment and prevention of disease, 1250-1500?

1. star charts and horoscopes to dictate treatment
2. check alignment of planets and stars to ensure treatment is being done at the correct time

Supernatural ideas about the cause of the black death?

In 1345, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were sighted in unusual positions

How many people died in the first 18 months of the Black Death?

nearly half of the population of England

What was the theory of opposites and who came up with it?

Created by Galen (built upon Hippocrates' theory)- too much of one humour could be cured by the opposing humour

Who were apothecaries? (1250 - 1500)

They mixed herbal remedies; they were knowledgeable about healing plants (books like Materia Medica): They were considered less skilled then physicians; weren't bound by Hippocratic oath- could use poison

Who were barber surgeons? (1250 - 1500)

people who could cut hair and carry out surgery; Least Qualified; Skilled surgeon could mend broken limbs, remove arrow or cataract

Who were physicians? (1250 - 1500)

Male doctors who had trained at university for at least seven years; Diagnosed treatment but rarely ever saw patient IRL, sent urine, faeces, blood and consulted charts. Only affordable by Ultra-Wealthy

How was the problem of too many animals solved in 1250-1500?

Small number of rakers introduced to clean the dung left by large amount of animals that came to be butchered and horses.

How was the problem of waste and litter solved in 1250-1500?

Contents of latrines and butcher's waste were thrown in the street, laws were passed to punish those who threw waste. Public latrines were built and butchers had to throw waste outside of city walls

Approximately how many hospitals were there in 1500? 1250-1500

1,100