The Renaissance Period

• Renaissance means rebirth. It was from 1450-1750.
• During this period, the printing press was invented. This allowed medical knowledge to be shared around the world or country quickly.
• Public health was still poor.
• Andreas Vesalius was the anatomy man. He dissected animals. He wrote a book about his discovery called the Fabric of the Human Body.
• Vesalius faced extreme criticism when he proposed his discovery from the Church and for opposing Galen’s ideas. The factors of his discovery were improved communications, improved science and technology and Individuals.
• The factors for Harvey’s discovery

  were science and technology and religion (because he couldn’t dissect humans as stated by the Church)
• William Harvey’s work was important because it opposed Galen’s ideas and encouraged others to do the same. It also allowed for blood transfusions and blood groups in the future.
• Paré was a french army surgeon for 20 years, so he was very experienced. By chance, he ran out of oil to cauterise an amputated limb, so he had to create an alternative. This had egg white, turpentine and rose oil.
• The rose oil Paré used instead of oil healed his patients a lot quicker. He also was the first person to use ligatures to tie blood vessels to stop them from bleeding. However, germs were unknown so many people died of infection. Instead, he designed artifical limbs.
• Bezoar stones, which were from goat stomach, were believed to cure the person if they rubbed it on a poisoned area of the body.
• People believed that drinking out of a ‘unicorn’ horn would also stop them from being poisoned. However, this horn was most likely a tusk from a narwhal.
• Lady of the Manour would treat sick people in their village. They were rich women who read books.
• Apothecaries were physicians that prescribed medicines that the apothecary would sell.
• Physicians were qualified doctors that were expensive and had studied at university and used the works of famous doctors.
• Surgeons were licensed by the bishop, learned as an apprentice and performed basic procedures.
• Barber-surgeon was someone who cut hair and shaved beards as well as performing surgery.