5


DiScOvErInG HiStOrY


H. Science and Medicine 1. Medicine


All understanding of medicine in the Middle Ages was based on the writings of ancient Greek philosophers and physicians (someone who practises medicine). A Greek physician from the second century AD was named Galen and he was the most famous and respected physician of his time.


Galen dissected animals and gave public lectures. He based his understanding of the human body on what he discovered by dissecting animals. This meant that not all his findings were correct. He believed that blood came from the liver and that the liver pumped it around the body. He also thought that mental illness was due to the imbalance of four fluids in the body: black bile, yellow bile, blood and phlegm.


The Catholic Church thought it was wrong for physicians to dissect bodies. This meant that during the Middle Ages there was very little examination of bodies and therefore little advance in medicine. During the sixteenth century these views changed.


Source H


Fig 5.25 Galen was a Greek physician who dissected animals in an effort to understand more about the human body.


Fig 5.26 The Anatomy Lesson of Doctor Willem van der Meer by Pieter van Mierevelt.


Looking at the evidence


1. Explain what is occurring in the picture. 2. What is the object at the bottom of the picture in the middle? What do you think it was used for? 3. In pairs or small groups, discuss what is notable about the people attending this anatomy lesson. What is notable about who is not in attendance at the lesson?


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