Renaissance England: 1500-1700

• Miasma Theory was a continuity in the causes of illnesses.
• The influence of the Church was significant during epidemics.
• Supernatural beliefs were a part of the causes of illnesses.
• The Four Humours Theory was widely accepted but it was not the only theory about the causes of illnesses.
• Analysis of urine was a change in the causes of illnesses.
• There was a move away from old ideas about the causes of illnesses but these ideas had not been fully replaced.
• Epidemic: Disease that spreads quickly.
• Printing Press: Machine for printing text/pictures.
• Renaissance: Revival of ideas from 1500-1700.
• Royal Society: Set up in 1660 to discuss new ideas in medicine and science
• Sponsored scientists.
• Continuities in prevention and treatment during the medieval period included bloodletting, herbal remedies, removal of bad air, and the use of apothecaries and surgeons for the poor.
• Changes in prevention and treatment during the medieval period included people looking for chemical cures for diseases, the beginning of Renaissance hospitals treating people with wounds and infectious diseases, and the emergence of Pest Houses.
• A pomander is a ball containing perfumed substances.
• Transference is the belief that an illness can be transferred to something else.
• Pest Houses were hospitals that specialised in one disease.
• Thomas Sydenham is known as 'The English Hippocrates' due to his emphasis on observing a patient.
• Doctors and physicians in the 17th century were still reliant on Galen's work.
• Vesalius is known as 'On the Fabric of the Human Body'.
• Vesalius corrected 300 mistakes by Galen on anatomy.
• Vesalius caused controversy by challenging Galen's work.
• William Harvey is known for his discovery of the circulation of the blood.
• William Harvey proved that arteries and veins were linked together.
• William Harvey was considered to be mad as he challenged Galen's work.
• The Great Plague of 1665 had unusual causes including an alignment of the plants, imbalance of Four Humours and Miasma.
• The treatment for the Great Plague of 1665 included prayer, quarantine, fasting, smoking tobacco to ward off miasma and Plague Doctors.
• Local governments tried various prevention methods for the Great Plague of 1665 including banning public meetings, closing theatres, sweeping the streets, burring barrels of tar and sweet smelling herbs to ward off miasma, killing cats and dogs.