MIDDLE AGES MEDICAL PRACTICES

MIDDLE AGES CATARACT SURGERY
During the Middle Ages, cataract surgery was performed with a thick needle. The procedure involved pushing the cornea to the back of the eye. Of course, eye surgery changed rapidly once Islamic medicine began to influence European practices. Rather than a needle, a metal hypodermic syringe was inserted through the sclera (the white part of the eye) and then used to extract of cataracts via suction.

MIDDLE AGES COLON CLEANSING
Enemas in medieval times were performed by devices called clysters. A clyster was a long metal tube with a cup on the end. The tube would be entered into the anus and a medicinal fluid poured into the cup. The fluid would then be introduced into the colon by a series of pumping actions. Although warm soapy water is used for enemas today, things were a little more earthy back then: one of the most common fluids finding its way into a clyster was a concoction of boar’s bile.Even kings were high up on the clyster. King Louis XIV of France is said to have had over 2,000 enemas during his reign—some even administered while he sat on his throne.

TO SIT OR NOT TO SIT
It was once believed that if a person did not pray to St. Fiacre (the “protector against hemorrhoids”) they would suffer from, you guessed it, hemorrhoids. If you were one of those unlucky fellows, you’d be sent off to the monks—who would put a red-hot iron up your anus. the less painful alternative was equally less effective: they’d send you to go and sit on St. Fiacre’s famous rock,

MIDDLE AGES BATTLE WOUNDS
Going under the knife without any anesthetic wasn’t as common in the medieval period as some people claim. Medicine throughout this time was quite progressive: as the world expanded and travelers came from far afield, doctors from two different cultures would often share notes, and new practices were constantly being put to use. However, even if the will for better medical care was there, the knowledge of chemicals certainly wasn’t. Although anesthetic was administered, analgesics, antibiotics, and disinfectants were a far cry from what they are today. As a result, many people died from infected wounds.

MIDDLE AGES "HEALTHY LIVING"
Doctors of the medieval period believed in things called “humors.” The word “humors” referred to specific liquids found in the body: blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm. “Humorism” was created from the contemplation of Greek and Roman physicians who believed a surplus or deficiency of any of the four humors would strongly influence a person’s health. In the Middle Ages, blood-and extra blood in particular-was often seen as the cause of multiple health problems. This caused doctors to remove large amounts of blood from a person’s veins.

MIDDLE AGES ANESTHESIA
General anesthesia is only about 150 years old. Before these advances, a rather unprocessed brew of herbs mixed with wine was used to sedate the patient instead. The most common of these herbal anesthetics was known as dwale. There were a number of ingredients in dwale—from the nontoxic, such as lettuce and vinegar, to the deadly, such as hemlock and opium. Much like modern knockout drugs, mixing these ingredients incorrectly could result in the patient’s death.

SPELLS & REPENTANCE
Early medieval medicine was often a mix of the pagan, religious and scientific. As the church gained more control, pagan “rituals” were made punishable offences. One such punishable offence might have been the following:
"When the healer approaches the house where the sick person lives and if the healer finds a rock with anything that moves underneath it, the healer declares that the sick person will recover. (From The Corrector & Physician).
Patients who had contracted the bubonic plague were told to perform penance – the practice of confessing one’s sins, then performing a religious devotion prescribed by a priest – a common “treatment.” They were told they might be spared death if they correctly confessed their sins.

TREPANNING

• The doctors would bore a small hole into your skull.
• It was said to alleviate pressure and other health problems with your head.
• Needless to say that when this happened bacteria got into the hole in your skull.
• It killed many

MEDICAL ASTROLOGY

• Astrologers were considered real life magicians.
• Each body part was influenced by:
• Sun,moon,planets
• Such star resigned over a different body part.

CHILDBIRTH

• In the Middle Ages childbirth was deadly.
• Priest told pregnant women to prepare for death.
• Midwives had to be licensed by a bishop.
• The had to take an oath and swear not to use witch craft during labor.

AMPUTATION

• Amputation 'surgeons' were never sought after for their delicacy but for their speed.
• First a curved knife would cut away the flesh from around the bone.
• . When the bone was reached then a saw had to be used
• To stop the bleeding either hot irons or boiling oil was placed on the end of the
• Stump.

LEECHING

• to deplete the body of quantities of blood, similar to bloodletting.
• Leeches were attached to the body to suck out blood from the body.

Birthday facts.
January 1
On January 26, 1986, in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Chicago Bears score a Super Bowl record number of points to defeat the New England Patriots, 46-10, and win their first championship since 1963.On January 26, 1950, the Indian constitution takes effect, making the Republic of India the most populous democracy in the world.On January 26, 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip guides a fleet of 11 British ships carrying convicts to the colony of New South Wales, effectively founding Australia. After overcoming a period of hardship, the fledgling colony began to celebrate the anniversary of this date with great fanfare.

October 14
1906 - All Chicago World Series, 1st AL victory, White Sox win 4 games to 2 Cubs losers share of $439.50 is lowest for World Series
1908 - Baseball Writers Association of America, forms
1908 - Cubs beat Tigers 4 games to 1 in 5th World Series, 1st rematch
1908 - Smallest crowd at World Series, 6,210 fans see Cubs beat Tigers
1909 - Pirates beat Tigers, 5-4, forces 1st full 7 game world series
1911 - Largest baseball crowd ever 38,281 (Polo Grounds) see Giants beat A's, 2-1 (gate is record $77,379)

Work cited
"Leeching (medical Procedure)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
"This Day in History for 14th October." Today in History, Birthdays & Historical Events. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.ll
"Medicine in the Middle Ages." Medicine in the Middle Ages. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.
"10 Bizarre Medieval Medical Practices." Listverse. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.