http://notsobadatall.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] notsobadatall.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2010-03-17 02:52 pm
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History of Medicine - Second Period - Wednesday, 3/17

"Ah, medieval medicine," he said as they walked. He was smiling, but it was a smile that said that there was a certain amount of amusement tempered by something else.

"You've heard the horror stories, no doubt. Leeches. Incense. All manner of... terrible treatments, cobbled together from what was left of the classical medical texts and whatever doctrine they thought made sense.

"Most of the class we've discussed what historical medicinal practices have brought to modern study, but while there are perhaps some portions of the practices that aren't ghastly, suffice to say that modern medicine seeks to step away from what was practiced at this time as opposed to taking much from it."

[ocd up!]
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[identity profile] notsobadatall.livejournal.com 2010-03-17 06:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Like someone just tried to stick a leech on you.

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[identity profile] walks-two-paths.livejournal.com 2010-03-17 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Savannah Levine
Edited 2010-03-17 19:12 (UTC)

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[identity profile] she-sheds.livejournal.com 2010-03-18 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
Joolushko Tunai Fenta Hovalis
eyebrowgoesup: (space drugs)

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[personal profile] eyebrowgoesup 2010-03-18 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
Spock

Listen to the Lecture / Chat Amongst Yourselves

[identity profile] notsobadatall.livejournal.com 2010-03-17 06:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Not that there was much lecture this time around.

Discussion

[identity profile] notsobadatall.livejournal.com 2010-03-17 06:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"The use of herbs during this time had little to do with cause and affect of previous eras. Instead, it drew from the medieval Christian doctrine of signatures which stated that God had provided some form of alleviation for every ill, and that these things, be they animal, vegetable or mineral, carried a mark or a signature upon them that gave an indication of their usefulness.

"For example, the seeds of skullcap (used as a headache remedy) can appear to look like miniature skulls; and the white spotted leaves of Lungwort (used for tuberculosis) bear a similarity to the lungs of a diseased patient.

"Then of course, there are the ever-famous leeches, which go back once more to the idea of the four humors that we've discussed previously. What I would like to discuss is this:

"Why do you think this period went so wrong, medically speaking?"

Re: Discussion

[identity profile] she-sheds.livejournal.com 2010-03-18 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
"It seems that if medicine during this time didn't build on what came before, or built on an incomplete or incorrect understanding of what came before then there wasn't much hope for the time period to go right, medically speaking."

TA

[identity profile] notsobadatall.livejournal.com 2010-03-17 06:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Because they're wonderful folks.

Re: TA

[identity profile] walks-two-paths.livejournal.com 2010-03-17 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Savannah was definitely here and paying attention to the herbs.

Re: TA

[identity profile] wantstocheer.livejournal.com 2010-03-17 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Claire was definitely around, if a bit grossed out by the idea of leeches as a medical tool.

Nick

[identity profile] notsobadatall.livejournal.com 2010-03-17 06:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Who was around.

OOC

[identity profile] notsobadatall.livejournal.com 2010-03-17 06:56 pm (UTC)(link)
*sigh* Even if it feels a little like the end of the world...

Re: OOC

[identity profile] walks-two-paths.livejournal.com 2010-03-17 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
*hugs you*
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