<p> Medieval Medicine</p><p>Medical practice during the Middle Ages was not ver advanced. </p><p>Beliefs. </p><p>1. Many physicians based their philosophies on the teachings of Aristotle and Hippocrates, who were famous ancient Greek philosophers. The emphasis on magic and astrology diminished; but some physicians still believed that if the planets were out of line, an individual would get sick, according the (zodiac) sign.</p><p>2. Natural functions, such as sneezing, were thought to be the best way of maintaining health. When there was a build-up of any one humor, or body fluid, it could be disposed of through sweat, tears, feces, or urine. When these natural systems broke down, illness occurred. Medieval doctors stressed prevention, exercise, a good diet, and a good environment. One of the best diagnostic tools was uroscopy, in which the color of the patient's urine was examined to determine the treatment. Other diagnostic aids included taking the pulse and collecting blood samples. Treatments ranged from administering laxatives and diuretics to fumigation, cauterization, and the taking of hot baths and/or herbs.</p><p>3. The strongest and most widespread belief was that of the four humours and four elements. The humours are bodily fluids, and the seat of all these fluids was thought to be the liver. The four humours are blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Supposedly the level of humours in the body characterized the personality.  If a person had more blood in his body, he was characterized as being very passionate, amorous, joyful, and kind.  If the person had an abundance of phlegm, the personality was characterized as being cowardly and lacking in intellectual ability.  Yellow bile meant that the person was generally believed to be obstinate, vengeful, impatient, and easily angered.  Black bile meant that the person was melancholy or excessively brooding. 4. Physicians also believed that certain gemstones held medicinal powers. Garnets were believed to keep sorrow at bay. Topaz and jacinth were used to alleviate anger. Emeralds and sapphires were thought to ease the mind.</p><p>5. One of our most frequently used techniques, which is quite simple, is to put leeches on the body of a patient suffering from high blood pressure. By sucking out the patient's blood, the leeches do help to lower the patient's blood pressure – but they might also cause death at the same time</p><p>Hierarchy of Medical Professions. </p><p>I. Physicians were not the only ones who provided medical care. To acquire a physician's education and skill, one had to come from a family with at least a little wealth. Physicians could charge high fees, as they enjoyed a high professional status. </p><p>II. Surgeons were considered to be inferior to physicians. They usually operated on a physician's instruction. The surgeons tended to have a bad reputation, mainly because they shared company with barbers. In most cases, the surgeon, the dentist, and the barber are all one in the same person. Contrary to what you may think, usually the surgeon is a poor choice. Most of our barbers (surgeons or dentists) are self-trained and really don't know too much about medicine. Take another hint; there are no pain killers! They also use equipment that is flimsy and unsterile which causes infections. The barbers were allowed to practice blood-letting and tooth-pulling.</p><p>III. The last rung on the ladder that was the the apothecary, or dispenser of drugs. The apothecaries came to be known as the physician's cook and were associated with grocers because they were essentially just that. Apothecaries also endured bad reputations at times. Some were not so ethical in their distribution of medicine. Often they would sell fraudulent prescriptions or miracle cures that a country bumpkin would pay hard-earned money for. Diseases. </p><p>1. The main cause for disease was probably the lack of sanitation. The streets of cities, towns, and villages were unadulterated cesspools. There were open sewers in the streets, which were also used as community garbage cans. This kind of atmosphere was the perfect breeding ground for rats, lice, fleas, viruses, diseases, and germs, all of which were common problems. 2. One of the biggest killers was the Plague, or "Black Death," a disease carried by rats who bred in the dregs of the sordid streets. Typhoid, a disease that was spread by improper sanitation, was also a problem. 3. Another cause for disease may have been the diet, or lack thereof, of many people. The rich frequently got gout; their diet primarily consisted of meat and not many fruits and vegetables. Many were probably malnourished and suffered diet-related ailments. Scurvy, a disease that results from the lack of vitamin C in the body, was common. 4. Toothaches were also a common, more minor problem. These afflictions were cared for by the barbers. 5. Another cause for disease was the exploration of the world. The explorers brought more than just tales, spices, riches, and knowledge. They brought back with them diseases like smallpox and syphilis, diseases which could be passed from person to person by physical contact or drinking or eating after someone. Epidemic diseases became more common in the sixteenth century. Among them were typhus, smallpox, diphtheria and measles. In children there were epidemics of plague, measles, smallpox, scarlet fever, chicken pox, and diphtheria. 6. The sweating sickness also hit England on six separate occasions. This disease of the lungs is accompanied by influenza and first appeared in 1485. First breaking out in a heavy sweat, victims of the sweating sickness then develop a high fever and infected rash. Soon after, most will be dead. In 1528, 40,000 people in London alone contracted the disease and died. </p><p>Cures. </p><p>Cures were basically concoctions of several different herbs that were thought to be of medicinal value. These concoctions were usually home remedies or ones prescribed by "old wise women" and soothsayers. Those who could afford a doctor's care would fill their prescriptions at an apothecary.</p><p>Different ingredients and herbs would be used for different parts of the body. For instance:</p><p> head afflictions were treated with sweet-smelling herbs such as rose, lavender, sage, and bay.  Heart problems were remedied by plants such as saffron, basil, and rosemary.  Stomach aches and other related sicknesses were treated with wormwood, mint, and balm.  Lung afflictions such as pneumonia and bronchitis were treated by liquorice and comfrey, which is still used in bronchitis medicine today.  The first effective remedy for ague (malaria) was a plant derivative from Peru called cinchona  For an earache, a common remedy was to put a roasted onion in the ear.  To cure a stye, a person was supposed to rub his eye with the tail of a black tomcat.  Captain Cook kept his sailors healthy from scurvy by giving them lemon juice, a source of much-needed vitamin C.</p><p>My name is Antonio the Barber Surgeon: </p><p>Do you wish to have your hair cut or do you need some surgery performed. As you can see, we do it all with surgery, be it a toothache, a large infection, or a broken bone, it means time to find the barber. Oh, did I mention that most of our towns don't even have a doctor or a surgeon? Here, at least in our town, surgery is actually the barber's job. </p><p>The four main instruments we use in surgery are the extractor, the saw, the forceps and the surgical drill; however, these are not the only tools used in surgery. We will use anything we can find that may be helpful. For example, the other day during surgery we used two small toothpick-like sticks in a "chopstick type fashion" to remove loose objects: some pellets a soldier had had the unfortunate luck to acquire during battle. Here are the specifics and pictures on some of our tools.</p><p>A hand-operated surgical drill used to drill into bone. Multi-purpose extractor used for removing teeth. </p><p>A surgical saw used to remove diseased limbs.</p><p>Forceps</p><p>My name is Sister Maria</p><p>I will teach you about hygiene during the Renaissance. Sorry to say that compared to your hygiene, our hygiene is, well - hopelessly unhygienic. </p><p>Our soap is so expensive and rare that even the royal family uses it sparingly. In fact, most of the royalty who can afford soap don't even use it. One of my English friends once said, "The more dirt removed, the more it stinketh." (Burdett, 16) We practice this motto to such a degree that most people, including the royalty, don't even bathe more than once or twice a year. The nobles wash so infrequently that they had to use extremely strong, specially made perfumes to cover up dreadful body odors. Unfortunately, commoners like you or I cannot afford such luxuries as special perfumes like his. </p><p>In our time, we know nothing about germs. In fact, we don't even know they exist. Because of this, our hygiene is very poor. Dangerous germs and diseases multiply and there isn't much we can do about it without completely changing our lifestyles. Some of our larger cities, some with populations of 100,000, have open and exposed channels down the middle or the side of streets which carries human waste and rubbish out of town. Once every month people from around the community are required to gather and help clean the gutters. Imagine what it would be like if they didn't.</p><p>As in all times, the washing of the clothes is a fairly important part of hygiene. However, we only wash our clothing two to four times a year. We commoners don't wash our over-clothes, tunics, or capes. Believe it or not, the king, queen and the other royalty don't even wash their clothes at all. After they become too outrageously gross, they just replace them and pass the old clothes along to the servants</p><p>Questions: Medieval Medicine</p><p>1. What was the theory on sneezing in this time period?</p><p>2. What is the current theory on sneezing in today’s society?</p><p>3. Complete this sentence: “Medieval doctors stressed ______, ______, ______. and ______.</p><p>4. Compare questions #3 to today’s general thinking on Health.</p><p>5. What is uroscopy, how was it done?</p><p>6. What are the 4 humors? 7. What was indicative of a passionate, joyful person?</p><p>8. If a person had a lot of phlegm what did that mean?</p><p>9. If a person has a lot pf phlegm today, what does that mean?</p><p>10.What did yellow bile indicate?</p><p>11.What was significant about the Garnet?</p><p>12.What gems were used to “ease the mind”?</p><p>13.How was high blood pressure treated?</p><p>14.What was the downside of using leeches?</p><p>15.Contrast Physicians to surgeons.</p><p>16.What was the difference between surgeons and barbers?</p><p>17.What do you think was the main cause for disease?</p><p>18. How did the “Black Death” spread? 19.Look up the meaning of the word “gout”!</p><p>20.Who would you call for a toothache?</p><p>21.How did global exploration lead to disease?</p><p>22. How were head colds treated?</p><p>23.How were heart problem treated?</p><p>24.How would you cure a stomach ache?</p><p>25.What ancient remedy is still in use today?</p><p>26.Sketch and describe three of the Barber’s tools used for medicine?</p><p>27.How often did most people use soap? Why?</p><p>28.How often did most people wash their clothes?</p><p>29.What was surprising to learn about many of the sewer systems in the large cities? </p>