History of Medicine, Part 1
Primitive Medicine
How long has disease been around?
______, also called “______”was found in dinosaurs and prehistoric bears. ______on bones were common.
What were some diseases in primitive man (and woman)?
______and ______are evidenced by small dark pin holes in vertebrae and skull. ______bones were caused by poor nutrition. ______and ______teeth were caused from improper diet and ______and ______(gum disease). Women died in difficult ______. We know this because skeletal remains have been found with fetal (unborn baby) remains still in pelvis. They had to nurse their babies and the best food went to men so they had weak ______.
How did prehistoric man deal with illness?
We aren’t sure, but we can guess from:
______
______and ______
*comparison to ______today (religion, music and medical treatment mingled together)
Who were the ancient healers?______
What were their techniques and tools of their trade?
Techniques: ______, ______, ______(sometimes it meant frightening evil spirits from patients and then casting it into a cockroach and stomping on it) ______and ______-(shaman would inhale large amounts of tobacco smoke until nauseated and then right before vomiting with suck evil spirits out of patient and vomit)
Tools: ______and ______& medical bags which held dried plants, herbs, sticks, sucking tubes, sharpened animal bones, and even human scrotum.
How did primitive societies regard sick or disabled people?
______and ______treated ill with kindness and acceptance; North American Indians were in awe of those that survived and treated them like gods. ______set out old and sickly in unsheltered areas to die. Some other groups ______and ______ill to preserve the life force of tribe.
How did primitive people regard mentally ill?
Some were ______. They were thought to carry evil spirits. But ______and ______peoples that this was a sign of a shaman.
How did primitives deal with injuries?
Sewed up cuts, also known as ______with strips of animal tendon and needles made from bone. They also made splints from ______and casts from ______. But they also did a surgery procedure called ______, a procedure when they drilled a hole in skull to “let out evil spirits”.
What medicines were available to treat disease and disorders?
Drug / Plant Source / UsesDigitalis / Foxglove / Slows heart
Quinine / Bark of cinchona tree / Helps with malaria; controls fever
Belladonna/ Atropine / Poisonous nightshade plant / Relieves muscle spasms
Morphine/ Opium / Poppy / Pain relief
Acetylsalicylic Acid / Bark of willow tree / Pain relief; Fever
Medical Marijuana / Cannabidiol (CBD) / Cannabis