Medical Interventions of the Renaissance

1400-1700: The Renaissance

Period 1- Team 4

Introduction to the Renaissance Period

Back during the Renaissance period, many people did not have the opportunity to have the education to read and write. Science and medicine were one of the many topics that scholars and similar people alike studied. The printing press served as a new technology, as it was a source to spread information around Europe quicker than ever during that time to one’s use.

Medical Research

This was during a time period that the Church held more power than it actually does today. Many were convinced that illness was due to a supernatural power and that a cure could only be received by prayer. For example, Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the few who dissected human bodies. The Church was not satisfied if they were using "pure" or "clean" bodies so they had to use the corpses of "sinners" and criminals. Leonardo and others used this practice to help understand the human body more while also reading the books that were translated from Arabic texts. Other physicians learned from these dissections and as form of punishment, some were still alive at the beginning of the process.

Circulation: A Major Breakthrough

In the year of 1628, William Harvey made a discovery, which only started out as a theory. His theory was published, stating that the heart was used as a pump to allow blood to flow throughout the body. It helped Harvey as other physicians to realize that the body had different systems which allowed the body to function. This is the knowledge that we use today as well.

New Lands Bring New Medicines and New Diseases

Physicians and scientists started using foreign herbs to use as medication. The herbs were given to them by explorers such as Columbus, but unfortunately, the exchange also brought new diseases to Europe. The Bubonic plague killed about one third of the European population. Since their immune system was not use to this foreign disease, many died. They had no defense against the unknown pathogens. Just as the Inca’s and Aztecs died of smallpox since their immune system was not built up to protect their body from it. The Quina tree bark has a component called quinine that use and is still used to treat malaria.

Hospitals and Healthcare

Many civilians were not rich so they were not treated by trained physicians. Surgeons and physicians used burning the wound by a hot poker or metal to stop the bleeding which is also called cauterizing. In time, this process was hardly used as they became familiar with different ways to stop the patient from bleeding. The surgeons tools were basic which consisted of a saw, a drill, forceps and pliers that were used for removing the patient’s teeth. If a proper surgeon wasn’t available at the time, a barber was used for the procedure of pulling teeth.

(all my info came from http://resources.schoolscience.co.uk/abpi/history/index.html )