Renaissance Medicine and Nursing

Renaissance Overview

• The Renaissance marked a resurgence in art, culture, and science, including significant advancements in medicine.
• Human anatomy and physiology gained better understanding, but causes and treatments of diseases were still largely unknown.

Medical Institutions and Care

• Hospitals were founded by religious groups, highlighting the influence of faith in healthcare.
• Nursing care was predominantly provided by women associated with religious orders, often self-taught or trained by physicians.
• Many female caregivers were impoverished, uneducated, or had criminal backgrounds.
• Most healthcare occurred in patients’ homes, with surgeries often performed there when necessary.

Key Figures in Medicine

• Michael Servetus:
  • Described the circulatory system.
  • Suggested that digestion generates body heat.
• Roger Bacon:
  • Advocated for chemical remedies in treating diseases.
  • Conducted research in optics and refraction.

Patient Care and Treatment

• Self-treatment was common for non-life-threatening conditions, with doctors visiting patients at home.
• Severe cases required patients to seek care at monasteries or churches, where priests served as trusted healers.

Advances in Medical Knowledge

• The invention of the printing press facilitated the creation of medical texts for educational use, promoting rapid dissemination of medical knowledge.
• Eased cultural restrictions on cadaver dissection led to improved understanding of human anatomy and the development of better treatment techniques.

Dissections and Barber-Surgeons

• Human dissections became more accepted, resulting in new findings regarding human anatomy.
• Barber-surgeons, who combined hair-cutting with surgical practices, commonly held other jobs outside of surgery to ensure steady income.

Spread of Diseases

• Increased trade and travel during the Renaissance contributed to the spread of diseases, though their causes were unknown at the time.
• Common diseases included:
  • Smallpox: Spread through droplets and close contact, often contracted by teens.
  • Syphilis: Sexually transmitted disease that became widespread.
  • Mentagra: Brought from Asia through noblemen, transmitted via greetings.

Factors Influencing Disease Spread

• Lack of cleanliness and rising travel rates facilitated the rapid dissemination of diseases during the Renaissance.
• Misinformation regarding hygiene and disease contributed to misunderstandings about health and illness.

Explore the transformative period of the Renaissance and its impact on medicine and nursing. This quiz delves into the understanding of human anatomy, the role of hospitals, and the contributions of women in nursing during this era. Test your knowledge of how healthcare evolved during this pivotal time.