ANCIENT THINKING

• • Ideas of Hippocrates and Galen were the basic of medieval physicians training
  • The Church especially supported Galens ideas as: they owned libraries which reproduced ancient texts, approved of Galens idea of perfect design, church was centre of learning and controlled what was taught - physicians not allowed to challenge Galen
• Uroscopy and Urine charts

  • Used urine charts to check thickness, smell, colour and taste for illness
  • They linked this to 4 humours eg pale urine meant too much phlegm
  • Uroscopy had some uses and remained standard way of diagnosing diabetes - but based on flawed idea
• Limitations

  • Medieval doctors had no idea they were wrong and no idea what actually caused disease
  • Only rich could afford physicians who used the 4 humours