Learning Objective:

To know: • Four Humours theory• Galen’s theory of opposites and treatments• Causes and treatments for Black Death

Understand: • Impact Galen’s writing had on progress in medicine• How his theories impacted on other medical theories in the

middle ages• Role of religion in causes and treatment of black death

Explain – what does this tell us about knowledge of causes

and treatments of diseases in Roman and Middle Ages

Copy out the diagram below:

What/why did they believe in the four

humours? Link to four seasons?

Examples & aims of treatments?

Galen’s theory of opposites?

Person 1 Person 1

Person 2Person 2

Hippocrates, Greek doctorwho thought of four humours. Those who

followed him were called Hippocratic

P16/17

Galen was a Greek doctor who had trained at Smyrna and then at Alexandria, in Egypt, where a mixture of Greek and Egyptian medicine was taught and some human dissection was allowed.• When Galen went home to Pergamon (in modern day Turkey), in 157 CE, he became surgeon to the gladiators. This work and his knowledge of anatomy developed his surgical skills.• He became a successful doctor and, in 162 CE, moved to Rome where he later became doctor to the emperor, Marcus Aurelius.• Although human dissection was not allowed in Rome, he continued to study anatomy by dissecting animals such as monkeys and pigs. He showed that urine is produced by the kidneys in one of his public dissections of animals, when he tied the ducts leading to the bladder and then the kidneys began to swell.• Galen also developed the work of Hippocrates, especially treatment based on the Four Humours. Hippocrates had preferred an approach based on minimal intervention by doctors and a healthy lifestyle, for example he suggested rest and no food as a treatment for fevers. However, Galen believed very strongly in bloodletting as a treatment for almost all illnesses and he also suggested that the balance of a person’s Four Humours could be restored by his Theory of Opposites – if you have too much phlegm, which is linked to water and cold, you should eat hot peppers; if you have a temperature, you should eat cucumber, which would cool you down.• He published over 350 books about medicine and surgery that summarised medical knowledge at the time, including his own new ideas, putting them all together into a single system. He was extremely confident and claimed that he had perfected the work of Hippocrates, with the result that many people believed there was no point in any further medical research.

Who was GALEN?

Hippocrates: 24-25

• Clinical Observations• Rejection of supernatural• Exercise and diet• Ethical behaviour

GalenRome 2c

Theories Galen’s Texts Impact of Galen’s teachingsmedicine

Link with astrology

Theory of opposites

Other theories/beliefs Hinder

progress?

TreatmentsMiddle ages

Middle Ages

Dissecting Inaccuracies

Please read the first section on pg. 68. Can you add to your notes regarding the impact of Galen’s teachings.

Page 6&7-10Page-42-43

Page 28-29

Church

Reputation

Dissection

GalenRome 2c

Galen’s Texts

Other theories/beliefs Hinder

progress?

Treatments

Middle Ages

Dissecting Inaccuracies

Theories

Theory of opposites

Link with astrology

Impact of Galen’s teachingsmedicine

Galen based his ideas and text on the dissection of animals such as apes and pigs. Concluded the brain linked to nerves and vessels. Connection between the liver and stomach

Galen rejected Hipp. Ideas about diet and rest and supported the ideas of bloodletting

Galen’s text were used long into the middle ages. Scholars and other physicians refused any ideas that might contradict Galen. Salerno medical school (10th c) used his text rather than practical experienceDominated medical teaching and treatments for next 1500 years

Galen was educated and articulate. He was

a prolific writer and was very popular

amongst rich romans. As a result, many

followed his teachings and continues to print

his text

In middle ages links to astrology such as star signs to Galen’s medicine. Some linked Zodiac chart to dangerous operations

Treatments were based on Galen’s teachings. Blood letting/theory of opposites continued into the Middle Ages

Inaccuracies in Galen’s dissections were never questioned because physicians were not allowed to dissects on humans. As a result Galen could not be challenged.

Also his notoriety meant that many were to scared to challenge such an important figure

The church dominated education into the middle ages. The church held all text, they upheld Galen’s teaching. Few challenged him

Ideas that the body had a soul

What/When was the Black Death? Links to religion

Other causes Treatments

Why?

Causes?

Treatments? Why?

The Black Death

Overall:

Challenge: Can you make any links between

causes and treatments?

Overall: A-A* - Read summary section. What does this tell us about their knowledge and understanding of that causes diseases in the Middle Ages

Who was responsible for treating the sick in the Middle Ages?

The barber-surgeon

Hospital

Housewife-physicianPrayer and Pilgrimage

The Apothecary

The trained physician

Challenge: Highlight which of these would be

accessible to the rich and those accessible to the poor.

Who treated

illness in the Middle

Ages

Challenge: Read pg. 72-73 see if you can link and

extent some of the info in your mind map.

Continuity - Galen