Change within the Middle Ages

part one of the medieval medicine (sheet one)

what were two of the main ideas about the cause of disease and illness in the middle ages?

• god sent illness to punish people for their sins

• the miasma theory - people who breathed in bad/poisoned air

what is stagnation?

No change in medical undertsandinf and/or public health

what is progress?

Improvements in medical understanding and/or in medical health

what is regress?

A return to a lesser state of medical understanding and/or public health

who were physicians?

specialist doctors who treated the rich

how were physicians trained?

at university - the students observed dissections and were taught that Galen’s descriptions of the body were correct

how did physicians treat the sick?

• clinical observation - taking the patient's pulse and checking their urine.

• based on the Four Humours - bleeding and purging were the most common. they would also offer advice on staying healthy eg. regular washing, cleaning teeth, combing hair, regular exercise and bathing

who would use physicians?

as physicians were the highest ranking doctors, only the rich could afford to go to them

was the role of physicians progress, stagnation, or regress?

stagnation: limited understanding of anatomy, taught to never question Galen (but Galen’s work contained mistakes)

who were barber-surgeons?

People who would perform minor surgeries and also cut your hair, hence the name barber surgeons

how were barber-surgeons trained?

Some trained as apprentices to experienced surgeons and joined the Master-guild of Surgeons, which required new members to gain licences by passing tests. Read books by great European surgeons like Guy de Chauliac

how would barber-surgeons treat the sick?

they would perform minor operations - set broken bones, pull teeth, amputations

who would use barber-surgeons?

people with money - mainly in towns and cities

was the role of barber-surgeons progress, stagnation or regress?

stagnation since they had some good methods but it was quite dangerous, however they are beginning to learn for themselves

Who were apothecaries?

chemists who would mix and sell their own remedies for sickness

how were apothacaries trained?

they would serve as an apprentice for 7 years with an existing apothecary

how would apothecaries treat the sick?

with herbal remedies - they would sell ‘simples’, a medicine made up of one plant or herb only; or ‘compounds’, which were a combination of ingredients made up to deal with a specific illness or complaint. One such compound was red nose, ground fine with bamboo juice, for treating small pox

who would use apothecaries?

ordinary people

were the roles of apothecaries progress, stagnation or regress?

stagnation since it didn’t really help, but it didn’t set people back - more harmless and helped people with less money. There is also more of a connection between the inside and outside of the body.

what was the role of women as care givers?

• they learned remedies from their mothers.

• there could also be a wise woman in the village who they could consult.

• midwives: in some towns, midwives had to serve an apprenticeship to learn the ‘trade’ and gain a license.

• women could also qualify as surgeons.

• the ‘lady of the house’ would often be expected to provide medical care for the family, and on an estate or farm, for labourers too.

were the roles of women progress, stagnation, or regress?

some progress because it allowed women to have a role in medicine and it doesnt rely heavily on supernatural treatments for illness.

what was the role of hospitals?

• many were funded by the Church, or by rich people leaving endowments to pay for a certain number of beds.

• basically, they were care homes, where those in need could receive warmth, food and rest until they felt better.

• very few hospitals employed physicians or surgeons - they were mainly run by older women or nuns

was the role of hospitals progress, stagnation or regress?

• some progress - the Church played an important role in providing hospitals and monasteries to look after the old, the infirm and the sick. The first hospitals also saw the beginnings of treating people in specific settings.

• some focus on the positive benefits of sanitation e.g. bathing patients and cleaning clothes