MTT : Medieval

How did the Church impact medicine?

• The Church was strong and highly regarded

• Monasteries controlled education and medical schools

• The Church controlled what books would be transcribed and read

• Monasteries made an effort to provide clean water and toilets

Who were medieval hospitals ran by and what did they do?

Medical care for the poor people ran by monks and nuns.

Provided hospitality for visitors

Genuinely ill people were turned away due to fear of disease spreading

Focused on care rather than cure

What was the main belief for cause of illness?

Hippocrates idea of the Four Humours

The four humours consisted of black bile, yellow bile, blood and phlegm

When out of balance disease would occur

What was the Theory of Opposites?

Galens idea that each of the four humours could be balanced with an opposite treatment

E.g. too much blood and too hot wold be treated with a cold and wet cucumber

Why did the church support Galen?

He believed in the soul and his ideas aligned with the Catholic Church

Galens ideas remained central for education

What was the theory of Miasma?

The theory that illness and disease was caused by bad smelling and poisoned air

What did people believe religiously about disease?

That it was a punishment for sin from God to test the persons faith

How does astrology relate to disease?

Many believed by looking at star charts they could work out what disease a person had or has. It was used to diagnose illness and disease.

What religious preventions of illness were taken?

• Avoiding sin

• Attending church

• Prayer

• Pilgramige

• Wearing religious charms

• Fasting

• Flagellation (public whipping)

How was miasma prevented?

• Carrying and smelling bunches of sweet herbs and flowers

• Lighting fires to drive away bad air

• Ringing bells to keep air moving

• Employing rakers to clean streets

• Building public latrines

How was having too much blood treated?

Bloodletting done by a physician including cutting into a vein, using leeches or placing heated cups over a cut/

What did barber surgeons do?

Carried out basic surgery such as bloodletting, the sewing of wounds and removing growths from outside the body

What did apothecaries do?

Provided cheaper herbal treatments which they sold to the sick

How was leprosy treated?

If someone caught leprosy they were separated from the community and sent to live in a “leper house”

They would have to wear a cloak and ring a bell to make others aware of their disease

Cannot receive hospital care

What did physicians do?

Trained doctors at University for 7 years and would diagnose a patients illness and recommend treatment after close observation.

Very expensive and only rich could afford

What year did the Black Death arrive?

1348

What were the 3 main beliefs and treatments for the Black Death?

1. Sent by God as punishment for sin = treated by confessions of sin or prayer

2. Miasma = treated by smelling strong herbs, sweet flowers or lighting fires

3. Imbalance of the humours = blood letting or purging

How did authorities try to prevent the spread of the plague?

• Quarantine laws : people had to isolate for 40 days

• Strangers could not enter villages

• Stopped cleaning streets to try drive away the bad air Ringing

• Events were banned

• Mass burial sites were made

What is the Kings Touch?

People believed the King held the power to heal as he was chosen by God

The church owned — of hospitals

30%

There were — hospitals by 1500

1100

Who were wise women?

The main source of care for the sick in small villages they sometimes mixed herbal remedies or carried out minor surgeries but mainly cared for the sick

How were urine charts used?

Physicians would examine a patients urine to check their diagnosis by carefully checking the colour, thickness, smell and even taste.

What was the Regimen Sanitatis?

A document outlining how to lead the most healthy life.