So during the early middle ages people would seek treatment with anyone that they could such as monks wisemen and barbers as the monarch believed public health was beneath them
So during the early middle ages people would seek treatment with anyone that they could such as monks wisemen and barbers as the monarch believed public health was beneath them
Then the black death hit Europe, one of the biggest pandemics of all times and killed off 40% of Britains population and spread rapidly due to poor living conditions and public health. With no explanation to the epidemic people resorted to all sorts of interesting treatments such as rubbing raw chicken onto the infrcted.
Then with the birth of the renaissance period and the churchs hold on medicine was loosening meaning scholars could now dissect freely and the printing press resulted in medical ideas being spread much easier resulting in greater medical understanding.
With the development of weapons on the battlefield, such as the introduction of the musket, new treatments were developed such as cleaning wounds with rose water and sewing up veins. Blood flow ideas were also changing as doctors now realised the heart was a pump and a theory of blood circulation was introduced bu William Harvey.
Then when the great plague of 1664 hit, and a quarter of Londons population was killed in 18 months and at least 200,000 cats and dogs were killed as people thought that was how the disease travelled. George Thompson however challenged old remedies such as bathing in urine and refused to evacuate london so he could study the disease.
He did in the end catch it but survived by apparently placing a frog on his chest. Even though it is complete and utter nonsense it increased the interest in observation and challenging old beliefs and remedies.
That is the history of medicine then right up to the end of the 17th century comment below if you want to see more on medicine
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