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Medicine in the Middle Ages

AD 500–1400

The History of Medicine

For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation.

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The fall of the Roman Empire

The Roman Empire grew until it could no

longer control its borders successfully.

Barbarian tribes overran the western parts of

the empire, and by AD 500 Europe consisted of

many small, feuding tribal kingdoms. These

kingdoms were often at war with each other.

What effects do you think these wars had on the

benefits that the Roman Empire had brought?


The wars meant that many of the Roman developments

were lost.

Roman buildings, public health

systems,

libraries and

medical books

were destroyed.

It was now dangerous to travel, so communications were

limited, and there were far fewer opportunities for doctors

to learn or train.


education

communications

Can you explain how the factors of war,

communications and education might have affected

the progress of medicine at this time?

war


Britain in the Dark Ages

After the Romans left Britain in AD 410, society went back

to its pre-Roman, uncultured ways. The next 500 years

were known as the Dark Ages.

During this time Britain experienced

many invasions by different

peoples, including the Saxons and

Vikings. Some invaders took what

they wanted and destroyed things

they didn’t; many settled in Britain.

What medical progress or regress would you expect

to have seen at this time?


Norman Britain

In 1066 the Normans invaded Britain. This period, the

Middle Ages, brought some improvements to public

health, travel became safer and trade increased.

For the wealthy in society, such as lords

and barons, living standards improved with

stone-built castles and manor houses.

For the majority, the peasants, however,

home was usually a small house

consisting of one room for the whole

family. Inside it was dark, smoke-filled and

damp. Peasants worked from dawn till

dusk, usually in the fields, in all weathers.

What effect do you think living conditions had

on the health of the rich and the poor?


Religion and medicine in the Middle Ages

After the Norman conquest

the church also became

wealthier and stronger all

over Europe.

The medieval church was a

very powerful force during

this time, and had a huge

impact on the development

of medicine.

On the next slide you will learn about the main ways

religion affected medicine during this period. Decide

whether the church helped or hindered medical

development in each case.


The church and medicine


How were people treated for illnesses?

Do you think that all these types of treatments were available to all types of people?


Supernatural or natural?


Many ordinary people were treated at home by their

wife or mother. Doctors were very expensive, and

herbal remedies handed down from mother to

daughter were probably as effective as any treatment.

How effective was herbal medicine?

Herbs have been used in healthcare throughout

the history of medicine. As communications

improved, new plants were discovered, and the

range of herbal remedies expanded. In the

Middle Ages, herbal remedies continued to be

used and gradually became more effective.

For herbs to have been used for so long, it is likely that

they had some positive effects. We now know that about

50% of ancient herbal cures were effective, although

those using them would not have understood why.


Herbal remedies – effective or not?


Medical progress in the Middle Ages

Although it may seem as if there was little medical

progress during this period of history, there were some

important developments.

Medical

developments

Urine was

analysed for

the first time,

an aid to

diagnosis still

used by

doctors today.

The

establishment

of schools for

doctors

improved the

quality of

medical care. Wine was used as an

antiseptic and drugs

were used to numb pain

in surgery.

Hospitals provided a place where

the sick could be cared for.


The Black Death

In 1348–49 Britain faced the worst crisis in its history. A

deadly disease, originating in Asia, arrived from Europe.

This disease was the bubonic

plague. The symptoms were a

fever, headache, tiredness and

painful swellings (buboes) the size

of apples in the groin and armpits.

Small, oozing red and black spots

appeared all over the body, giving

the disease the name the Black

Death. Many patients only lasted a

few days before a painful death.

Nearly 40% of the English population died.


What was believed to cause the Black Death?

It was not until 1894 that it was

discovered that the bubonic plague

was caused by germs, carried by the

fleas which live on black rats.

Back in 1349 people had very different ideas about the

cause of the disease.

Which beliefs have we seen already in prehistoric

medicine?

Which beliefs are new?

Why do you think no one suspected the fleas?

Look at the list of the causes people believed in on the

next slide.


Annoying God –

the plague was

his punishment.

Looking at a victim

– the disease was

spread by eye

contact.

Breathing bad air (miasma) –

medieval towns were very

smelly and the smell was

supposed to contain diseases.

Drinking from

poisoned wells –

Germans believed

the Jews were

poisoning drinking

water to kill off non-

Jews.

The position of the

planets – the

relationship of the

planets and the

movement of the

Sun affected health.

An imbalance of

the body’s four

humours –

Galen can’t be

wrong!

Touching a

victim. What did

people

believe

caused the

Black Death?


How did people try to prevent or cure the Plague?

On the next slide you will see some of the treatments

people at the time tried to prevent or cure the Plague.

What do the ideas on causes and treatments tell us

about medieval people's medical knowledge?


Drink 10-year-

old treacle.

Eat arsenic

powder.

Sit in a sewer –

the bad air of the

Plague will be

driven away by

the worse air of

the drains.

Eat crushed emeralds.

Strap a live

chicken

(shaved) to the

Plague sore.

Kill all the

dogs and

cats in town.

Let the blood out

of the patient. Put herbs on

the fire to

make the air

smell sweet.

Run for

the hills.

How to

prevent the

Black Death Go from

town to town

flogging

yourself with

a whip.


The effect of Arab medicine on the West

The Dark Ages might have been a time of chaos for Europe,

but further east a new, Islamic civilization was developing

ancient Greek medical ideas.

The Arabs admired the

writings of Hippocrates and

Galen. Medical students

studied them carefully. New

discoveries were made,

some of which challenged

Galen’s ideas.


When Europeans went on crusades to

the Holy Land in the 12th and 13th

centuries, their doctors gained first-hand

knowledge of Arab medicine, which was

advanced by Western standards.

The Muslims believed, however, that the Koran, their holy

book, held all the knowledge needed and did not encourage

the search for new discoveries. The Koran taught them to

look after the sick, and many large hospitals were built.

However, criticizing Galen was allowed, and so many new

discoveries were made in the Arabian empire, more than

were made in Europe at the time.




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6. Medicine in the Middle Ages - Bexhill Academy in the Middle Ages.pdfReligion and medicine in the Middle Ages ... Breathing bad air (miasma) – ... 6. Medicine in the Middle Ages