Renaissance Medicine

Overview

This revision booklet goes over

The Renaissance period witnessed a shift in medical thinking, with figures like Andreas Vesalius and William Harvey challenging the long-held beliefs of Galen through dissections and experiments. Vesalius' book, "The Fabric of the Human Body," published in 1543, revealed inaccuracies in Galen's anatomical descriptions, such as the jawbone being made up of one, not two bones. Harvey, on the other hand, revolutionised the understanding of the circulatory system, proving that blood circulates throughout the body rather than being constantly produced by the liver. Thomas Sydenham, another physician, advocated for a more scientific approach, stressing the importance of observing patients and diagnosing individual diseases. The establishment of the Royal Society in 1660 promoted the spread of scientific knowledge through its journal "Philosophical Transactions," while also promoting experimentation and collaboration among scientists. However, despite these advancements, the understanding of disease causation remained limited, as evidenced by the ineffective treatments employed during the Great Plague of 1665.

Timeline

Time flies when you're balancing humour.

In the 1530s, King Henry VIII dissolved monasteries in England, leading to the establishment of hospitals in towns to replace their healthcare role.

In 1543, Andreas Vesalius published "The Fabric of the Human Body," challenging Galen's anatomical descriptions through detailed illustrations based on human dissections.

In 1560, Vesalius' book was used to train doctors in Cambridge.

In 1565, the first dissection by an anatomist took place in Cambridge, inspired by Vesalius' work.

In 1628, William Harvey published "An Anatomical Account of the Motion of the Heart and Blood," revolutionising the understanding of the circulatory system by demonstrating the circulation of blood.

In 1660, the Royal Society was established in London, promoting scientific exploration and the spread of knowledge.

In 1662, King Charles II granted the Royal Society its first Royal Charter, enhancing its credibility and profile.

In 1665, the Great Plague hit London, highlighting the limitations of medical knowledge and the persistence of traditional beliefs about the cause of disease. The Royal Society begins publishing its scientific journal, "Philosophical Transactions," facilitating the spread of scientific discoveries.

In the 1660s - 1670s, Thomas Sydenham practised medicine in London, advocating for a scientific approach based on observation and patient history, moving away from the theory of the four humours and astrology.

Andreas Vesalius

Vesalius, working at the University of Padua, revolutionised the understanding of human anatomy through his meticulous dissections and detailed illustrations. He directly challenged the authority of Galen, the ancient Greek physician whose works had been accepted for centuries. Vesalius' book, The Fabric of the Human Body (1543), featured accurate engravings based on his dissections, revealing key errors in Galen's anatomical descriptions. For example, Vesalius showed that the human jawbone is a single bone, not two as Galen had claimed. Vesalius' work emphasised the importance of direct observation and hands-on experience in anatomical studies, inspiring other physicians to question traditional medical knowledge. His book was used in medical education at Cambridge by 1560, demonstrating the impact of his work on training future physicians.

William Harvey

Harvey further advanced the understanding of the human body with his groundbreaking work on blood circulation. Through dissections and experiments, he refuted Galen's theory that blood was continuously produced in the liver. Harvey's careful observations and calculations led him to conclude that blood circulates throughout the body, pumped by the heart. He published his findings in An Anatomical Account of the Motion of the Heart and Blood (1628), which included detailed diagrams of his experiments, allowing other physicians to replicate his work and verify his conclusions. Harvey's work not only challenged Galen's theories but also emphasised the importance of the scientific method in medical research. Although his ideas were initially met with resistance, especially because they contradicted the popular practice of bloodletting, his position as physician to King Charles I and his fellowship at the Royal College of Physicians helped to spread his ideas.

Thomas Sydenham

Sydenham, a prominent physician in London during the 1660s and 1670s, advocated for a shift in medical practice. He believed that physicians should focus on observing patients, taking detailed medical histories, and recognizing the specific characteristics of diseases rather than relying solely on traditional medical texts, astrology, or the theory of the four humours. Sydenham's approach emphasised the importance of bedside observation and clinical experience in diagnosis and treatment. He challenged traditional treatments such as bloodletting and purging, advocating instead for therapies that supported the body's natural healing process, like a nourishing diet. While he could not identify the microorganisms that caused the disease, his detailed descriptions of illnesses like measles and scarlet fever contributed to a more scientific understanding of the diseases.

The Royal Society

The Royal Society, founded in 1660, played a crucial role in fostering scientific inquiry and disseminating knowledge during the Renaissance. The Society promoted experimentation, discussion, and the sharing of findings among its members. Its publication, Philosophical Transactions, which began in 1665, served as a vital platform for scientists across Europe to share their research and engage in intellectual discourse. The Royal Society actively worked to make scientific knowledge accessible to a broader audience. It encouraged members to publish their works in English instead of Latin, ensured that copies of their work were available in a public reference library, and provided funding for the translation of European scientific texts.

Renaissance Practitioners and Treatments

Despite the emergence of new ideas, traditional medical practices persisted during the Renaissance. Physicians often relied on the theory of the four humours, which claimed that an imbalance in bodily fluids caused disease. Treatments like bloodletting and purging, aimed at restoring humoral balance, remained prevalent. Hospitals, increasingly established in towns to fill the void left by the dissolution of monasteries, often relied on these traditional treatments. Apothecaries, akin to modern-day pharmacists, provided remedies and medicines often based on herbal traditions. However, the lack of a scientific understanding of disease causation led to the popularity of "quack doctors" who offered ineffective and sometimes harmful treatments. Luckily, a guild system was established to licence apothecaries and prove their trustworthiness.

The Great Plague of 1665

The Great Plague, which ravaged London, exposed the limitations of medical knowledge at the time. The lack of understanding about germs meant that responses to the plague were largely ineffective. The persistence of the miasma theory, the belief that bad air caused disease, led to practices like lighting fires to purify the air. Quarantine measures, while implemented, were based on a limited understanding of disease transmission (transference: touching something would completely transfer the disease to it). Traditional treatments like bloodletting and purging continued to be used, highlighting the enduring influence of the four humours theory. The plague doctors' attire, designed to protect them from miasma with masks filled with herbs, symbolised the prevailing misconceptions surrounding the disease.

Conclusion

That's all, folks!

In conclusion, while there was a shift in the attitude toward medicine and a rise against the church, most people's beliefs remained the same and not much actually changed. This is evidently shown when history repeats itself with the Great Plague of 1665 and most people did the same things they did in medieval times, with the added restriction of a quarantine that was not very efficient due to a lack of understanding.