Medieval

• Black Death


  1348
• Four humours

  Phlegm, black bile, yellow bile and blood
• Theory of Opposites

  The idea that the four humours could be rebalanced by applying the opposite
• Hippocrates came up with the four humours
• Galen invented the Theory of Opposites
• Beliefs of causes of disease

  • Punishment from God
  • Miasma (bad air)
  • Astrology (positioning of planets and stars)
  • Hippocrates / Theory of Four Humours
• Beliefs of treatment and prevention of disease

  • Praying to God for forgiveness
  • Herbal remedies (medicines)
  • Purging and bloodletting (leeches and vomiting) to balance the four humours
  • Quarantine
  • Galen / Theory of Opposites
• People attempted to prevent The Black Death by quarantining. They would not let strangers enter their village.
• Hospitals


  • For the elderly and infirm
  • Provided basic nursing, but no medical treatment
• Majority of sick people were cared for at home