Post by Arthur on Nov 20, 2010 8:53:48 GMT -6
Medieval Medicine
Medieval medicine was a mixture of existing ideas from antiquity, spiritual influences and what shamanistic complex and social consensus. In this era, there was no tradition of scientific medicine, and observations went hand-in-hand with spiritual influences.
In the early Middle Ages, following the fall of the Roman Empire, standard medical knowledge was based chiefly upon surviving Greek and Roman texts, preserved in monasteries and elsewhere. Ideas about the origin and cure of disease were not, however, purely secular, but were also based on a world view in which factors such as destiny, sin, and astral influences played as great a part as any physical cause. The efficacy of cures was similarly bound in the beliefs of patient and doctor rather than empirical evidence, so that remedia physicalia (physical remedies) were often subordinate to spiritual intervention.
As Christianity grew in influence, a tension developed between the church and folk-medicine, since much in folk medicine was magical, or mystical, and had its basis in sources that were not compatible with Christian faith. Spells and incantations were used in conjunction with herbs and other remedies. Such spells had to be separated from the physical remedies, or replaced with Christian prayers or devotions. Similarly, the dependence upon the power of herbs or gems needed to be explained through Christianity.
The church taught that God sometimes sent illness as a punishment, and that in these cases, repentance could lead to a recovery. This led to the practice of penance and pilgrimage as a means of curing illness.
The healers
A distinctive feature of this period is the variety of healers. Unlike other professions there was no controlling elite, indeed almost no profession—as there was no consensus as to standards or methods, many practitioners were part-timers, and all integrated a number of roles into their work-lives rather than that of just 'doctor'. Those offering healing encompassed both sexes, all religions, and people at every level of society from serf to the most educated and wealthy academics. To many practitioners—nurses, dentists (dubbedent or adubedent), apothecaries, midwives, etc.—their work was a trade. Not until the 16th century did various bodies begin to be granted a legally enforced dominance over medical practices. It is attractive to categorize these medical practitioners into two rough categories, noting the vague and porous nature of the boundaries. The major split is between the clerical and elite university-educated personnel ("physicians") and tradespeople.
The ordinary practitioner sold medical assistance and potions. They worked either as guild members, with a license from local authorities, or attached to a major household or perhaps monastery. They were paid either for their services on a case-by-case basis or with an annuity, payments were often in kind—food or clothing—rather than cash.
Clerical medicine, often called monastic medicine, was provided as part of a religious duty, with payments and income made via a church rather than directly. The Rule of St Benedict states that "before and above all things, care must be taken of the sick, that they be served in very truth as Christ is served." Virtually every monastery had an infirmary for the monks or nuns, and this led to provision being made for the care of secular patients. Almost a half of the hospitals in medieval Europe were directly affiliated with monasteries, priories or other religious institutions. Many of the rest imitated religious communities, formulated precise rules of conduct, required a uniform type of dress, and integrated worship services into their daily routine.