(i) Medieval Medicine – Key Words – Flashcards
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Medieval
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Related to the Middle Ages. Usually thought of as the period between 500 and 1500.
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Ancient
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Civilizations belonging to the very distant past e.g. Romans, Egyptians, Greeks
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Hippocrates
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Greek regarded as the father of modern medicine. Author of the theory of the Four Humours.
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Galen
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Roman who developed the ideas of Hippocrates. His books were used for the next 1000 years
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Diagnosis
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The identification of the nature of an illness by examination of the symptoms.
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Natural
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Explanations for illnesses that rely on what can be seen and observed. Remedies might include herbs.
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Supernatural
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Illnesses that cannot be given an ordinary explanation. It might be explained by a god, devil, spirit etc
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Bloodletting
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The surgical removal of some of a patient's blood for healing purposes.
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Four Humours
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Theory put forward by Hippocrates and Galen based on four liquids in the body.
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Astrology
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The study of the movements and positions of planets interpreted as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world.
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Barber-Surgeons
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Medical practitioners who used surgery to treat patients. They also performed other tasks, like cutting hair
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'Compendium Medicine'
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Gilbert Eagles 13th century medical textbook that was used to train medieval doctors. Based on Greek knowledge.
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'Bald's Leechbook'
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Anglo-Saxon (950 AD) remedy book.
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Zodiac Chart
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Documents which linked parts of the body to astrological signs.
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Apothecary
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A medieval pharmacist or chemist who would sell herbs and spices.
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Wise-Woman
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Person in towns and villages who would offer traditional remedies and supernatural cures.
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Lady of The House
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Person who would be expected to provide medical care for the family and labourers on an estate.
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Doctrine of Signatures
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A theory which states that herbs that resemble parts of the body can be used to treat those same parts of the body.
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Dark Ages
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An age during the medieval period when medical ideas were lost because of wars and a lack of writing
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Physician
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A doctor of medicine who trained at university.
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Mortality
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Death-rate. Usually measured per thousand of the population.
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Symptoms
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A physical or mental feature which is regarded as indicating a condition of disease.
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Epidemic
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A sudden, widespread occurrence of an infectious disease.
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Malnourishment
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Not enough to eat - one of the leading causes of ill health in the Middle Ages
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Leeches
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Blood-sucking worm like insect, used to take blood from a patient.
