Progression in medicine medieval

• Treatment of disease 


  Little advancement but some herbal remedies worked- honey antiseptic, bilberry juice improves blood circulation.
• Ideas of causes of disease

  No progress- miasma, four humours, religion, superstition
• Prevention care and public health-

  prevention no progress- prayers and charms

  care- progress- growth of hospitals

  public health- little progress- some limited laws passed, government reactive to events eg Black Death
• Anatomy and surgery 


  Anatomy- no progress, no human dissection, galens ideas thought of as facts

  surgery- gained experience, often on battlefield, Hugh of Luca criticised the view that pus was needed, John of arderne used opium to dull pain