Advancements Of Medicine In The 17th Century

The 17th Century took place from 1601-1700, and was a time of great advancements in both science and philosophy. In the area of scientific achievements, medicine in particular experienced a number of important breakthroughs. During this time, the theories created by Galen, a Greek Physician, in 140 AD were still believed by doctors. His theory stated that four humors, or fluids, determined your personality, ruled your body and how you reacted to diseases. For example; if you had a phlegm humor, then you would be cold, and as a result have a calm personality. To cure illnesses during this time, doctors used Chinese plant remedies, leeches to clean the blood, and different strange powders, such as the horn from the mythical unicorn, and the
skulls of criminals. It was very hard for doctors and scientists during this time, because the Church strongly forbade dissection, making it hard for them to learn about the human body.
Although working conditions for doctors in the 17th Century, were challenging, many new advancements took place, and revolutionary leaders took a stance. Some of the most evolutionary leaders of this time were: William Harvey, Robert Boyle, Nathaniel Hodges, Thomas Sydenham, and Robert Hooke. These people listed were a few of many brilliant doctors and physicians during this time. In 1620, an Englishman named William Harvey was the first to explain how blood is circulated throughout the body, with the heart playing a vital role, by pumping the blood to control the flow. Fortunately, he was supported by King Charles 1st, during this time. Robert Boyle, a chemist and author of the The Skeptical Chemist , was the first to describe how the body takes in “gas” in order to breathe. We now know
that that this so-called “gas”, is actually oxygen. In 1665, The Great Plague hit England, and as many as twelve thousand people died weekly. Nathaniel Hodges survived and helped his patients by giving them lozenges, which herb candies with menthol. We still use such lozenges to this day. This kept the fever down, and even prevented people from getting ill. Thomas Sydenham, also known as the “English Hippocrates”, emphasized the importance of observing your patients, and their symptoms. Instead of just ignoring them, he felt you must pay attention to small, but vital information. Using the invention of the microscope from the 16th Century , Robert Hooke was the first to describe c,ells in his book Micrographia. Another discovery during this time was the use of bark from Cinchona trees, which contain quinine, a present-day painkiller, to help treat malaria. This was significant discovery and helped to save the lives of many both during this time and later. It is obvious now that inventions and discoveries during this time, still play a vital role in the world of medicine today.
The inventions that we take for granted today, such as ultrasound, microscopes, and stethoscopes, all evolved from this critical period.
To this day, William Harvey’s discovery of how the heart works, and how our blood flows, has been important for millions of doctors as they treat their patients. Without this discovery, our health today would be questionable, and new inventions baded on this discovery may not have taken place. From blood transfusions to the various types of surgery, Harvey’s inventions still play an important role today. Although many at the time disagreed with Robert Boyle, without his discovery, we would not understand how we breathe, and what is required for humans to survive. In some ways, Boyle is almost a savior for modern mankind. Increased knowledge regarding cells, also known as the building blocks of life, has opened doctors up to new discoveries on how the body functions. From stem cell research to cures for life threatening diseases, every aspect of our health is of a result of our cells. Without the discovery by Hooke in 1665, the world of medicine will still be back in the days of the 16th century and before, when cells and how they fucnction, was unknown. It would take a long period of time to go through all of those inventions that we neglected to appreciate. But for now, we must be thankful that we in modern society, have benefited from the work of many educated scientists before
us.