Option 11: Medicine in Britain, c1250–present and The British sector of the Western Front, 1914–18: injuries, treatment and the trenches Study Guide

The early 20th century marked a pivotal shift in understanding disease, moving firmly past superstitions and towards a scientific basis. Robert Koch and Louis Pasteur’s work in the late 19th century firmly established the Germ Theory, which became the dominant paradigm. This led to breakthroughs in identifying specific pathogens for various diseases, driving developments in public health, vaccination, and treatments like antibiotics. Genetic research, spurred by the discovery of DNA's structure in the mid-20th century, introduced a new dimension, explaining hereditary conditions and individual susceptibilities. Lifestyle factors, including diet, exercise, and smoking, also gained prominence as understanding of non-communicable diseases grew. Today, a multifaceted approach integrates microbiology, genetics, and epidemiology, alongside an appreciation for environmental and social determinants of health, offering a comprehensive but complex view of disease causation.

During the medieval period (c.1250-c.1500) in England, understanding of disease causation was fundamentally different from modern scientific views. The predominant framework was based on religious and supernatural beliefs, alongside classical theories inherited from ancient Greece and Rome. Many believed that disease was a punishment from God for sins, or a test of faith. Supernatural explanations included demonic possession or witchcraft. Astrology, the belief that planetary alignment influenced health, was also widely accepted, with physicians often consulting astrological charts before treatment.

The most influential medical theory was the 'Theory of the Four Humours,' developed by Hippocrates and expanded by Galen. This theory posited that the body contained four vital fluids: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. Illness occurred when these humours became imbalanced. For example, a fever might be attributed to an excess of blood, while a cold was linked to an excess of phlegm. Treatments were designed to restore this balance, such as bloodletting, purging, or changes in diet. While seemingly unscientific by today's standards, this theory provided a systematic, if flawed, approach to understanding and treating illness for centuries.