THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE

Principles of Medical Science

HISTORY OF MEDICINE Question: How long has disease been

around?

Arthritis (also called “cave gout”) was found in dinosaurs and prehistoric bears

Fractures on bones were common

HISTORY OF MEDICINE Question: What about disease in primitive man

(and woman)?

Tuberculosis and parasite infestations (small dark pin holes in vertebrae and skull)

Under calcified bones caused by poor nutrition Eroded and decayed teeth caused from

improper diet and pyorrhea (gum disease) Women died in difficult childbirth (skeletal

remains found with fetal remains still in pelvis) They had to nurse their babies and the best

food went to men so they had weak immune systems

HISTORY OF MEDICINE Question: What about the Neanderthal

people?

Some scientists think that they weren’t stooped over because they were the “Missing Link”, but had advanced arthritis!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?????

HISTORY OF MEDICINE Question: How did prehistoric man deal

with illness?

We aren’t sure, but we can guess from:*cave drawings*bony remains and artifacts*comparison to primitive societies today

(religion, music and medical treatment mingled together)

HISTORY OF MEDICINE Question: Who were the ancient

healers?

(Witch doctors or healers)

Shaman

HISTORY OF MEDICINE Question: What were their techniques and tools of

their trade?

Techniques: chanting, praying, hallucinogenic trances (sometimes it meant frightening evil spirits from patients and then casting it into a cockroach and stomping on it; Sucking and vomiting-shaman would inhale large amounts of tobacco smoke until nauseated and then right before vomiting with suck evil spirits out of patient and vomit)

Tools: facial and body paints and medical bags which held dried plants, herbs, sticks, sucking tubes, sharpened animal bones, and even human scrotum!

HISTORY OF MEDICINE Question: How did primitive societies

regard sick or disabled people?

Cherokees and Navahos- treated with kindness and acceptance; North American Indians were in awe of those that survived and treated them like gods

Eskimos- set out old and sickly in unsheltered areas to die

Other groups- killed and ate them (to preserve life force of tribe)

HISTORY OF MEDICINE Question: How did primitive people

regard mentally ill?

Some were shunned- they were thought to carry evil spirits

Eskimos and Siberian peoples that this was a sign of a shaman

HISTORY OF MEDICINE Question: How did primitives deal with

injuries?

Sewed up cuts (lacerations) with strips of animal tendon and needles made from bone

Made wood splints and casts from hardened hides

Trepanation- drilled hole in skull to “let out evil spirits”

HISTORY OF MEDICINE Question: How did primitives deal with injuries?

Deadened skin with plant substances Used herbs and plants as medicine

digitalis-from foxglove plant (slows heart) quinine from bark of cinchona tree (helps with

malaria, controls fever) belladonna and atropine from poisonous nightshade

plant(relieves muscle spasms) Morphine and opium from poppy (pain relief) acetylsalicylic acid from bark of willow tree (pain-

aspirin) Medical marijuana?