Medical Practices and Illnesses in Elizabethan England

What were the common beliefs and practices surrounding medicine and illnesses in Elizabethan England?

Common Beliefs and Practices in Elizabethan Medicine

During the Elizabethan era in England, medical practices and beliefs were vastly different from what we know today. The prevailing theory at the time was the belief in the four humors - blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile - that were thought to determine a person's health. According to this theory, an imbalance in these humors would result in illness.

Physicians during this time heavily relied on herbal remedies, bloodletting, and other traditional methods to treat various ailments. Surgeries were rare and often performed in unsanitary conditions, leading to high rates of infection and mortality. Additionally, the concept of quarantine or isolating sick individuals to prevent the spread of disease was virtually non-existent.

One common treatment for illnesses such as the plague was to burn aromatic herbs and spices to purify the air, known as 'fumigation'. This practice, although well-intentioned, had little scientific basis and did little to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.

Overall, Elizabethan medicine was characterized by superstition, reliance on ineffective treatments, and a lack of understanding of the true causes of illnesses. This contributed to the rapid spread of diseases and high mortality rates during this period.

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