key terms for medicine during the medieval era

What did medieval doctors do?

Prescribed natural medicine made from plants, animal products, spice, oils, wines and rocks.Took pulse and observed the smell and taste of urine

What supernatural remedies were combined with natural?

Prayers, charms,astology, horoscopes

How was smallpox treated?

Red rose was grounded with bamboo juice

What did John Arderne pain killing ointment include?

Hemlock, opium, and henbane

What were used as anaesthetics?

Mandrake roots, opium, hemlock

What did barber surgeons do?

Bloodletting, tooth extractions, bone setting

What were some tools used for surgery?

Saws, arrow pullers/cups, cautery irons, wine as antiseptic,

How did Church treat the sick?

Prayed to gods for their treatment, provided free treatment to the sick, poor and travelling. Set up university schools of medicine.

How did the church hinder the progress of medicine?

Didn't allow human dissection, insisted on using Galen’s work as it aligned with their beliefs. Believed in care not cure. Discouraged doctors from exploring new ideas.

Who didn't hospitals accept?

People thought to be contagious with smallpox or leprosy. They had to go to Lazat or Pest houses. Separate hospitals were set up for the mentally ill such as Bedlam in Londom

What were some surgeries done during this time?

Cauterisation, trepanning

What were some cures for the black death?

Drank mercury, strapped a chicken to buboes, flagellation, prayers

What did people do to try and prevent catching the plague?

Pomanders, quarantine, avoiding contact with others

What did people believe caused the plague?

The positions of stars and planets, bad air, God’s punishment, imbalance of the four humours, poisoning of wells by Jews

How did Islam influence medieval medicine?

The Islamic empire was ruled by caliphs. They were interested in science and supported medicine as prophet Muhammad did as well. Scientists were encouraged to discover cures for diseases

Negative short term impact of the plague?

• 3000 villages were abandoned

• Value of land decreased

• Towns faced food shortages

Long term impact of the plague?

• Shortage of labourers and peasants left for better conditions and pay

• Ending of the feudal system

• Church lost power as they couldn't stop the disease

What threatened public health?

Lack of hygiene, waste products like blood, guts and harmful chemicals were dumped into the river, open drains would overflow

What kept the people health?

Some towns pass laws to keep the environment clean, some used wooden or lead pipes, towns had privies with cesspits

How did monasteries and abbey's improve health?

They were far away from towns so they were protected from epidemics and near a river so they had clean water supply. Had a drainage system.

How were monks trained?

Trained to use herbs for healing and had access to medical books and manuscripts so they were very educated. Helped preserve old medical books by copying them out.

Why did monks clean regularly?

It was a sign of piety and celibacy. Washed regularly for religious ceremonies