History Key Words

MTT

Superstition

A belief, not based on knowledge, but in the supernatural like God, witchcraft or astrology.

Monastery

A building where monks live, eat and pray

Miasma

‘Bad air’ which was blamed for spreading disease

Astrology

Study of the planets and its effect on humans

Urine chart

Used human urine to help diagnose an illness

Amulet

A charm that brought ‘protection’ from disease

Purging

To rid the body of a ‘excess’ like blood or vomit

Bloodletting

To open a vein or apply leeches to draw blood from a patient; restoring the balance of the humours

Cupping

Using glass cups to draw blood to the surface

Pilgrimage

A journey to a religious shrine and relics to show your love of God and to cure an illness

Apothecary

A medieval pharmacists or chemist

Physician

A male medically trained doctor

Wisewoman

A female healer, who used magic or herbal remedies to cure illnesses.

Rakers

Men hired to clean the streets of muck

Epidemic

A widespread outbreak of a disease

Black death

A term to describe the bubonic plague

Flagellant

People who whipped themselves to show God they repented their sins and wanted mercy.

Pestilence

A fatal epidemic disease, e.g. the Black Death

Vivisection

Criminals would be sentenced to death by vivisection where their bodies would be cut open for medical examination

Quarantine

Separating the sick from the healthy to stop the spread of disease. Those who were sick could leave the quarantined area.

Alchemy

Early chemistry, trying to turn one material into another.

Anatomy

The study of the human body and how it works

Autopsy

Dissecting a body after someone has died to establish cause of death

Diagnosing

Finding out what disease someone has by e.g. taking their pulse and observing the patient

Humanism

Intellectual movement which promoted a love of learning and discovery

London Treacle

A 17th century version of a medieval theriaca, used to treat the plague

Microscope

A new invention that allowed things to be magnified

Pest House

A hospital for people suffering from infectious diseases, e.g plague

Philosophical Transactions

The first ever scientific journal, first published in 1665 by the Royal Society (and still is today)

Printing

The process of creating a book. This was developed during the 1440s in Germany

Royal Society

A group of people interested in science who met weekly. They had a laboratory with microscopes. King Charles II was a patron

Thermometer

A new invention that allowed someone’s temperature to be taken

Renaissance

New beginnings/ Rebirth

Antibiotics

A drug made from bacteria that kill other bacteria and so cure an infection or illness.

Cancer

A group of related diseases. Cells divide and spread into the surrounding tissue.

Dialysis

Technology that replicates the function of the kidneys.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that genes are made of.

Electron Microscope

Developed 1931. Allows doctors to see cells in fine detail.

Gene Therapy

Medical treatment using normal genes to replace defective ones. 

Magic Bullets

A chemical that kills a particular bacteria and nothing else

Pacemaker

Implanted technology that regulates heartbeat.

Penicillin

The first antibiotic drug produced from the mould of penicillin to treat infections.

Polio

A contagious disease that can cause paralysis and death

Radio/Chemo Therapy

Treatment of a disease, such as cancer, by the use of chemicals

Superbugs

Bacteria that are not affected/destroyed by antibiotics or cleaning 

Transplant

When a faulty or damaged organ (e.g. liver) is swapped with a healthy one through surgery

X-Ray

Technology using particular light rays . Used in WW1 to locate bullets in the body.