renaissance

• renaissance causes

  • move away from supernatural ideas, reformation of protestantism
  • prayer still important but alongside other treatments
  • 1530s henry VIII dissolution of monastries+ movement towards humanism extending peoples thinking of natural world rather than assuming religious causes
  • medical knowledge grew but miasma and ancient teachings still continued to be believed
  • sydenham-dieases are diff so need to be studied+diagnosed
  • new anatomical studies-vesalius and harvey
• vesalius


  -famous anatomist who improved understanding of anatomy

  -medical professor in padua, italy challenged galen

  -performed dissections on criminal bodies allowing him study human anatomy closely. showed dissections important and became more common practice in medical training

  -published 'the fabric of the human body'. (1543)

  -his works printed+copied by printing press inspiring others.

  -challenged galen encouraging new discoveries
• william harvey


  -studied in cambridge and padua italy+became royal doc to charles I

  -observed animal hearts in action+applied to humans and discovered circulation of blood and disproved galens idea that blood made in liver and pumped around body.

  -harveys research was major breakthrough, changed ideas of anatomy, supported vesalius idea of dissections being important.

  -pulished 'On the Motions of the Heart and Blood'. (1628)

  -took a while till docs applied harveys theories

  -although ppl knew more abt anatomy treatments still very basic

  -bloodletting still performed evem though proved wrong
• medical treatments


  -many docs reluctant to accept galen was wrong continued bloodletting+purging. focused more on reading books than treating

  -docs very expensive so people used other healers:apothecaries,barber surgeons, quack docs.

  -supersition+religion still relevant. ppl thought kings touch could cure scrofula-skin disease.thousands visited king charles i hopes to be cured.

  -used folk remedies however newly found ingredients
• great plague (1665)


  -londons death toll around 100,000

  -doctors+priests most affected as the sick went to them for help

  -treatment dominated by supernatural-wearing lucky charms, praying or fasting,special remedies

  -bloodletting still used, worsened plague as it created wounds which could get affected.

  -belief in miasma, carried herbs and posies

  -councils tried to stop spread but ineffective as cause was unknown

  • councils quarantined victims, red cross painted on door
  • crowded areas closed eg theatre
  • cats and dogs killed as thought to carry plague.