The Middle Ages, or Medieval Era, was the period of time between the 5th and the 15th Centuries, from the fall of the Roman Empire until the beginning of the Renaissance in Europe. During this time, most of Europian society and government was under control of the Catholic Church, who essentially monopolized areas of science and medicine.
According to the Church during this period, people became sick because it was God's will, as a punishment or moral test; and therefore the only way to heal a sick person was through prayer. Concepts from folk medicine, including spells and herbal remedies (some of which actually did work!) took a backseat to Christian prayer and tradition. Very few advancements were made during this period in history, and the few methods that medical practicioners did use could be quite gruesome at times.
Sense of Humour
Many physicians during this time believed that all bodily functions were a direct result of various 'humours' in the body. Originally a theory proposed by Roman and Greek mystics, these humours were considered to be various fluids in the body that corresponded with the four basic natural elements; Phlegm represented water, blood was air, yellow bile was fire, and black bile was earth. The common belief in the Middle Ages was that a person became ill, emotionally or physically, because of an imbalance of these natural liquids in the body.
To cure a patient, therefore, doctors attempted to 'correct' the balance of these body fluids. A common practice at this time was 'blood-letting.' Blood was considered to be the dominant humour and therefore needed to be controlled more than the others. Therefore, people who experienced any physical ailment along with mental issues had 'excess blood' that needed to be drained.
The most common method of this practice was the placing of leeches over a patient's body by a physician and his assistants. Once the leeches had gorged themselves on what the doctor believed was an ample amount of blood, they were removed, and the patient was considered 'cured.' The most common disease associated with this practice? A fever. The Middle Ages was a rough time to have a high body temperature.
Other methods of balancing humours involved induced vomiting/diarrhea, causing heavy perspiration, and exercizing until a patient literally collapsed from exhaustion.
Black Death
During the Middle Ages, the Bubonic Plague, or "Black Death" as it was known at the time, was wrecking havoc on the European population. An estimated 1/3 of the population of Europe contracted and perished from this horrible disease. Once contracted, the hosts life expectancy was usually no more than 7 days.
The Black Death was actually an infection of the lymph nodes, usually around the arm-pit or groin regions, causing the nodes to swell and become very painful. Since there was no knowledge of microscopic bacteria, viruses, etc., there was no such thing as antibiotics. To treat the infected lymph nodes, physicians would usually pierce the inflamed area, almost like people today 'pop' pimples.
Afterwards, the area underneath was raw, highly sensitive, and now exposed to the elements. The wise doctors saw this, and developed what they felt was the best treatment for the exposed infection; they created a tasty paste of butter, onion, and garlic, and applied the fragrant mixture to this exposed wound. When these condiments were unavailable, doctors prescribed placing the carcass of a dead toad on the wound.
Going Under the Knife
Surgeries during this period could be considered the most excruciating of all medieval medical treatments. There was no anesthesia, so everything about the procedures were felt by the clients. There were also no antiseptics, apart from a few primal ones passed down from ancient times. Dissections of human corpses was banned by the Church until very late into the Middle Ages, as it was seen as a sort of 'desecration' of the body. Therefore doctors at this time had very little knowledge of the inner workings of the human body.
Many kinds of surgeries were performed during this period, although there is no way to know what the success rate of these procedures might have been. Operations ranged from amputations of infected limbs, eye cataract surgery, and the removal of arrows or other weapons from a victim's body - all while the patient was wide awake. Occasionally, doctors gave patients a heavy dose of opium, to dull the pain, or hemlock, to induce sleep - although many times both would likely just induce an early death.
Childbirth
It was very, very difficult at this period in time for a woman to carry and bear children. It was so dangerous, that when a woman was nearing the end of her third trimester, she was often told to prepare a shroud and confess their sins to a priest - in preparation for their own death.
Midwives were very useful for women enduring pregnancy and childbirth, but were often disregarded and seen as 'witches.' Because of this negative image, many women refrained from becoming midwives, and many women who would have benefitted from the assistance of a woman with medical knowledge were obligated to go without.
Most of our knowledge of childbirth during this period actually comes from the notes of male physicians and medically educated religious figures who performed what they felt were 'appropriate' procedures. They believed that if a woman was having difficulty delivering because the baby was in an abnormal position within the womb, the doctors would shake the bed in an attempt to shake the fetus into the correct possition. If a child died in the womb, doctors would 'surgically' open the womb and dismember the fetus before extracting it. And yet, the midwives were considered to be 'evil.'
Modern Medicine
Looking back on the methods (and madness) of medieval medicine gives us a whole new perspective on the glories of modern medicine. Simple conveniences like antiseptics, painkillers, and most of all - soap - have saved countless lives and have improved the quality of life for people around the world. Vaccines and cures are being discovered and improved everyday because of scientific freedom to do so. In this day and age, it is easy to see why our life expectancies are significantly higher than that of medieval peoples - but then, with medicine being as it was back then, how long would you really want to live?
Kathleen Szeluga - I swear to report the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me logic and reasoning.
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