History of Medicine: Ancient Ideas

History of Medicine: Ancient Ideas

1. 1) TheStone Age

   • Trepanning
     • A method that involved drilling into the skull to release evil spirits that caused headaches.
   • Herbal Remidies
     • A treatment for stomach pains, which were most likely caused by gone-off food. Not that they understood that, of course.
   • Fixing Broken Limbs
     • In a fairly similar fashion to today's methods, they understood it should be 'popped' back into place and then supported it, probably with animal skin and a stick/bone.

2. This resource covers ancient theories of medicine, as the first of two extension studies on the Edexcel History Unit 1A: Medicine course. Take the Quiz!

   • History of Medicine: Ancient Ideas Quiz

3. 3) Ancient Greece

   • Temple of Ascelpion
     • Baths (to wash)
     • Abaton (to sleep)
     • Temples (to heal)
       • People thought the Gods would heal them while they slept.
       • In reality, it was most likely priest doctors treating them as they slept.
     • Gymnasium (to exercise)
     • These facilities were popular around 400-600BC, and Ancient Greeks would visit when ill to get better.
   • Performed basic surgery
   • Understood exercise could prevent illness
   • Thought the Gods caused illness still

4. 2) Ancient Egyptians

   • The River Nile
     • Bathing and Washing
       • Promoting hygiene
     • Fresh and Safe Drinking Water
       • Promoting hygiene
     • Lots of fish
       • Good diet
     • Irrigating crops
   • Trading along the river
     • Variety of diet, herbs, spices remedies etc.
   • Developed Writing
     • Write down effective herbal remedies
   • Priest Doctors
     • Must be clean at all times
       • Reduces risk of infection
   • Embalming dead bodies
     • Learn about basic organ functions
     • Understanding of human anatomy, although limited

5. 4) Hippocrates & Galen

   • Hippocrates (460-370BC) and Galen (131-201AD) were Greek doctors
   • Clinical Observation
     • 1) Observation: Looking for and recording symptoms
       • 2) Diagnosis: Suggesting what is wrong with the patient
         • 3) Prognosis: Suggesting a likely outcome
           • 4) Treatment: If necessary, cures/medicine (remedies) are given
     • Still the used method of treatment today although nobody before Hippocrates had thought of it!
   • The 4 Humors
     • The theory that illness was caused by an imbalance of the Humors
       • Galen used this theory to develop The Theory of Opposites, meaning that people with lots of phlegm, associated with cold and wet, should eat hot peppers as treatment.
         • Now a discredited idea
   • The Hippocratic Oath
     • Promise to preserve life and care for people above all else, regardless of who the patient is.
     • Promise to keep patient confidentiality, regardless of age, family or relationship.
     • Still used today!
   • They said illness is due to natural causes, not God.
   • They wrote many books, keeping their ideas around for 2,000 years

6. 5 )The Romans

   • Public Health
     • Understood that great Public Health was vital for a great empire
   • Hospitals in Forts
     • Well - equiped hospitals were available in most Roman Forts to treat soldiers.
     • Provided training for surgeons and physicians
     • Would not have impacted ordinary people
   • Believed in the 4 Humors theory from the Greeks
   • Large towns and cities enabled disease to spread easily
   • Anyone could be a Roman Doctor
     • No training was required, and so treatments rarely worked
     • Allowed Greek Doctors to spread their ideas into the Empire
   • Many still believed Gods caused illness

7. Please keep in mind I sat these exams in 2014, so check it still applies to the modern curriculum before taking information for granted!

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