Medical practitioners

• Apothecaries:

  • good knowledge of the healing powers of herbs and plants
  • studied herbal annuals
  • not considered as the most skilled or knowledgeable
  • didn't go to university
  • comparatively cheap
• Barber surgeons:

  • least qualified
  • got jobs because they had the 'right tools'
  • roles included pulling teeth and bloodletting
  • cheap and popular
• Skilled surgeons:

  • learned their skills at university
  • had arguably the highest level of training
  • training was based on experience
  • roles included setting limbs, closing wounds and removing cataracts from eyes
• Physicians:

  • trained at new universities
  • training took between 7 and 10 years to complete
  • diagnosed illnesses and prescribed treatments based on the Four Humours
  • rarely carried out treatments
  • comparatively expensive
• Women:

  • most commonly used
  • treated patients at home
  • treated a wide range of ailments
  • present as midwives