Superstitions
There were many myths and superstitions about health and hygiene as there still are today. People believed, for example, that disease was spread by bad odors. It was also assumed that diseases of the body resulted from sins of the soul. Many people sought relief from their ills through meditation, prayer, pilgrimages, and other nonmedical methods.
The body was viewed as a part of the
universe, a concept derived from the Greeks and Romans. Four humors, or body fliuds, were
directly related to the four elements:
*fire=yellow bile or choler
*water=phlegm
*earth=black bile
*air=blood
These four humors had to be balanced. Too much of one was thought to cause a change
in personality--for example, too much black bile could create melancholy.
Humors
Natural functions, such as sneezing, were thought to be the best way of maintaining
health. When there was a build-up of any one humor, or body fluid, it could be disposed of
through sweat, tears, feces, or urine. When these natural systems broke down, illness
occurred. Medieval doctors stressed prevention, exercise, a good diet, and a good
environment. One of the best diagnostic tools was uroscopy, in which the color of the
patient's urine was examined to determine the treatment. Other diagnostic aids included
taking the pulse and collecting blood samples. Treatments ranged from administering
laxatives and diuretics to fumigation, cauterization, and the taking of hot baths and/or
herbs.