HISTORY 70F Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Leper Colony, Taoism, Herbalism
Document Summary
Transition to the belief that naturalistic healing only heals symptoms temporarily need religion to fully heal. Because people believed that god is the source of illness: as a result, no need to pursue more knowledge about medicine, ecclesiastical takeover of medicine, practicing of medicine taken over by people from the christian. Secular (naturalistic) healing: throughout the dark ages, medicine is seen as a craft church, not scholarly pursuit, no theoretical expertise, three therapeutic approaches, herbal remedies, surgery, performed by barbers, dietetics, low level of expertise, low social status. Religious healing: saving soul > healing body, body = weak, corruptible, secular. Prayers, fasting, penitence, patrom saints, and relics (e. g. sait agatha. Charitable institutions: church: healing mission, hostels,poorhouses, leper colonies, precursure to modern hospitals hotel, hospice hopitlity, medicine = secondary concern, multiple functions, comfort sick and poor, spread christian faith, practical impulse. Monasteries: sites of learning and healing, monks copied and translated ancient texts, infirmaries established.
