Medieval Medicine - Oneonta€¦ · PTSD-It is very possible that knights of the medieval ages...
Transcript of Medieval Medicine - Oneonta€¦ · PTSD-It is very possible that knights of the medieval ages...
Medieval Medicine:On the Battlefield and at Home
Jake T. VreelandDepartment of History
State University of New York, College at Oneonta
ToolsSurgeons often face wounds that would require them to create new tools that would be
particularly unique to the technology of warfare. Often these devices would arise out of
quick thinking for solutions to life threating problems. These devices would not only save
lives but also evolve into the tools we use today.
Surgeons and Barber Surgeons:Surgical texts were often attributed to the work of universities, stemming from the
church. Surgery at this time was still rather primitive as it was in its infancy but
began to address issues such as anatomy and even the philosophical questions of
whether a man could be saved and should be saved. Surgeons were often held in
bad light at the opening days of their practice. The church held the belief that the
mutilation of the body was a grievous sin and some popes went as far as to order
excommunication in the case of crusaders attempting to bring home the bones of
fallen brothers. However, the church did allow physicians to study patients with
fatal wounds. It is however here in the crusades where we see surgery begin to rise
in reputation. With this surge in reputation and interest, medicine would become an
ever increasingly studies subject at the university level. Thus, we have a foot in the
door if you will. Following this the study of surgery followed and eventually would
be tolerated by the Church, especially in the case of caesarian sections. As the
knowledge of the human anatomy grew, surgeons and barber surgeons alike
began to find their way to the battlefield. The educated and skilled surgeons often
accompanied nobles and men who could afford them. While, barber surgeons often
followed the army and provided services in exchange for pay and also to further
expand their practice and knowledge of surgery.
Famous Surgeons & Advances
John Bradmore – John Bradmore is most famously known for extracting an arrow from
the head of the Black Prince, the future King of England, Henry V. The situation was
dire as the arrow had lodged itself underneath the left eye of the Black Prince and
found itself near the brainstem and surrounded by arteries. To further complicate the
problem, the bodkin had broken off and the shaft of the arrow was no longer attached.
Bradmore had invented a device with two threaded tongs with a center theaded throng
which more or less acted as a screw and could pull the arrowhead out by essentially
pulling it up by counterclockwise turning.
Ambroise Pare- Ambroise Pare was a French barber surgeon is considered one of the
fathers of surgery by many. His unintentional use of the scientific method, by testing
different treatments on the same injuries in varying groups of soldiers allowed him to
find new ways to treat wounds instead of the traditional methods of cauterizing wounds.
Ambroise Pare instead adopted older Roman methods of applying turpentine to wounds
which would allow them to seal, often producing a far greater positive outcome than
boiling oil had produced. His work with ligature of arteries in opposition to cauterizing
wounds and amputations also saw greater success.
Splints and Mending Bones -The three objectives of surgery were to heal what was
broken, what had become unnaturally joined, and to remove whatever was superfluous.
So it is here we begin to see surgeons addressing issues such as broken bones and
the creation of splits to put on legs and arms that were broken.
PTSD- It is very possible that knights of the medieval ages experienced PTSD.
These knights were no different psychology in make-up than we are today. Some
doctors and historians have begun studying documents written by crusaders in order to
prove that very point. “Previously, medieval texts were read as worshiping heroes and
glorifying violence. But in the light of modern military psychology we can see the mental
cost to the knights of their participation in the gruesome and extremely violent wars in
the Middle Ages.” - Thomas Heebøll-Holm of the SAXO Institute at the University of
Copenhagen:
Art
Art could be used as a sort of reference for early surgeons who were inexperienced in
regards to dealing with soldiers on the field.
The History of Battlefield Medicine
Military medicine or battlefield medicine has always been aimed
at improving the lives of the men and women we send into
harms way. As the battlefield is often not accredited to learning,
as it often stands in opposition of a higher thinking at times. It
is here we see where some of the greatest advances in common
medicine and surgery stem from conflicts of the battlefield.
Quick thinking surgeons would have to create innovative and
first of their kind tools, where the stakes were most certainly at
their highest. Fates of battles, kings, and even kingdoms could
hang in the balance depending on the outcome. As the church
began to promote education and ancient anatomical texts
began to resurface, the desire to learn more about medicine
began to increase. It is here where we begin to see medicine
come into its own and gradually evolve into the realm of military
medicine we see today, an aspect in itself an essential part of
any military.
Archeological Evidence
Art such as
“Wound Man”
located on the
right, was
published in
1492. This
diagram laid out
the different
battlefield
injuries and
their treatment.
Latin Manuscript of the Albucasis
Students studying at University
A tool used to remove arrows and cut away flesh
-Various tools used to remove arrows cleanly and to cut through muscle, in order to get to the bone.
This skeletal remain of a soldier from the Battle of Towton. The left side of the mandible has a healed blade injury which occurred in a previous violent encounter. However, rather obviously the least of his problems was the knife. The crushing wound to the left side of the face was likely caused by a pole-axe or another weapon meant at dealing crushing blows. This image was provided by the University of Bradford, UK.
A recreation of the arrow that lodged itself in the Black Prince’s skull
Durham Cathedral, and the Committee for Student Research for their financial support.
Talisa Stark the closest representation of a pop culture barber surgeon