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Summary Medicine topic for edexcel history
Medicine topic for edexcel history
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1200-1500 medicine in medieval England.Ideas about the cause of disease and illness.
● The supernatural and religious explanation
People believed god controlled all aspects of life. So illness was caused by God as a
punishment or as a test of faithfulness. Bible stories endorsed this view. Doctors also
believed in the alignment of the planets and stars.
● The theory of the four humours
The ancient Greeks thought everyone had a mix of four humours and people became ill
when this mix became unbalanced. The four humours are blood, yellow bile, black bile and
phlegm. These ideas continued into the medieval period.
● Miasma
This was a belief that disease was spread by poisonous air/vapours associated with
decomposition and foul air. This could come from stagnant water and marshes and from
decaying and rotting food all of which were just dumped on the street.
Important individuals
● Galen
He was a Greek doctor who worked in ancient Rome. He wrote many books and his ideas
were the basis of medical training in the middle ages. He developed Hippocratic ideas and
mainly used bloodletting or purging to prevent and treat illness as well as his treatments
based on the theory of opposites. He also drew detailed diagrams of human anatomy using
the knowledge he gained from operating on wounded gladiators and carrying out dissections
on the dead.
● Hippocrates
He was an ancient Greek doctor whose ideas and books were very influential in medieval
times and beyond. He dismissed the idea that disease was caused by god. He believed
there were physical reasons for an illness that needed a physical cure. Most of his
treatments were based on diet exercise and rest but he also used bleeding and purging to
get rid of excess humours. He wrote the Hippocratic oath where doctors swore to respect life
and prevent harm. His method of clinical waste observation.
Approaches to treatment
● Religious and supernatural
To pray to the gods for forgiveness. Flagellation to imitate Christ and show remorse. To go
on a pilgrimage. This showed faith and praying before and touching objects belonging to the
holy people connected them with god. Very often these journeys were to a saint connected
to the medical issue. visiting a monastic hospital. Although the aim was not to heal.
Physicians used star charts to diagnose.
● Humoural treatments
Many believed in the theory of opposites. It was a galen who developed the ideas of the 4
humours. Besides bleeding and purging to get rid of excess humours. The theory of
opposites aimed to balance out the humours by giving the patient the opposite of their
symptoms. Eg if you had too much phlegm you should eat hot peppers as the film was linked
to cold.
, ● Herbal remedies
Plants were used often as herbal remedies. They would be drunk, sniffed and bathed in.
herbs like saffron were more exotic and expensive. A common herbal remedy was the race
which had ingredients like ginger, cardamom, pepper and saffron, even opium. Many did
work but it was down to luck.
● Medieval medics
Physicians - the main role of a physician was to diagnose and suggest a course of
treatment. These diagnostics were based on the four humours and the stars. They did not
perform any treatments. This was left to surgeons. There were not many physicians in
medieval times. This was due to the training taking a long time and it is expensive.
Surgeons - skilled at treatments their knowledge was gained through experience e.g.
warfare. They often carried out what physicians advised.
Barber surgeon - they did things like bloodletting, removing surface tumours, sewing up
wounds and making splints for broken bones.
Apothecaries - they were exporters in mixing medicines. They had experience with herbs
and more exotic ingredients.
Wise women - they were experts in mixing herbs and worked from their homes. They were
also the ‘midwives’ in their local area. They learnt from their mothers. They were also seen
as magic.
● Hospitals
The number of hospitals in medieval times. By 1500 there was estimated to be 1100
hospitals. These hospitals cared for the sick. 30% of hospitals were run by the church, often
part of a monastery. Treatments were not provided in these hospitals they just kept you
comfortable. Other hospitals were set up from charity donations. They often were
specialising in a particular disease eg foundling hospitals.
Preventing disease
● Role of church influence
Living a Christian life e.g. praying, going to church and obeying the commandments. Varying
lucky charms and amulets, chanting incantations and self-punishment such as flagellation
punishing yourself so god won’t.
● Hygiene
Keeping clean was seen as practical and religious. Preventing dirt and disease but only the
rich could bathe regularly. Poorer people had to cope with rivers or public baths. People tried
to keep their homes clean with sweet-smelling herbs.
● Purifying air
Incense was burned in churches to purify the air and get rid of any bad miasma.
Case study the black death
The black death was an outbreak of bubonic plague. The bacteria were carried in the
digestive system of fleas who arrived in England. Once caught it was unlikely you would
survive the disease and die in 3 to 5 days.
● Causes of the black death
Religion - god sent the plague as a punishment for people sins
Astrology - the position of mars Jupiter and Saturn were unusual at this time.
Miasma - people believed that the disease was spread by the poisonous air miasma.
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