3. Man tried to protect health during the Middle Ages. Certain important health methods were used during this period. Epidemics of diphtheria, typhoid, fever, leprosy (проказа), influenza, bubonic plague and other diseases took millions of lives.
4. Leprosy was spread for hundreds of years. This disease was controlled not by medical means. The patient lived in special colonies away from other people. This was a very important advance in public health during this period.
5. During the Middle Ages plague killed many millions of people in Europe. In 1348 the “Black Death” struck Britain: nobody knew how to fight with this disease. The doctors advised people to run away from the affected areas. Everybody agreed that plague was god’s punishment for the sins of men.
Developments of the Middle Ages
6. A very important development during the Middle Ages was the hospital. Hospitals appeared in Ceylon early in the 5th century B. C. and in India in 260 B.C. Hospitals were founded during the Middle Ages in Italy, France, England, Spain and other European countries. The number of hospital beds was not always an indication of hospital size, usually great beds were used and 4-6 patients were put on one bed.
7. Hospitals were founded to treat the sick people. Another development during the Middle Ages was the foundation of Universities. Many of the great European Universities were founded during the 13 and 14th centuries. Biological sciences were taught in the universities. Students studied the human body and some diseases.