Early folk medicine

Prehistoric people thought that desease was caused by the evil (спричинена злим духом), influence of an enemy, a demon, a god, an animal and it must be treated by means of dislodging the malevolent cause (усунути хвороботворну причину). There arose a class of men who claimed skill in the art of healing (мистецтво лікування), and whose methods of treatment included dancing, grimacing and all the tricks of the magician (чарівні трюки).

In Babylon it was a custom to show the sick in the streets, so that passers-by could say how to treat the sick from their own experience. It was not allowed to pass the sick man in silence.

A papyrus was found dated from 1600 B.C. (до нашої ери) about surgery and the treatment of wounds. Then another papyrus was found with about 900 prescriptions, some of these prescriptions doctors use today.

The clinical medicine and safeguard of people's health greatly developed in Roman times. The name of Galen is widely known. Galen worked first as a surgeon at a school for gladiators. Then he went to Rome when he was thirty-two years old and there he had much practice.

Middle Ages date from about 500 A.D. to about 1500 A.D. The period from 500 A.D. to about 1000 A.D. is often referred to as Dark Ages, as there was lack of progress in the ability of people to understand and control their environment.

During Middle Ages many hospitals were built in Europe. In the middle of the 14^th century the bubonic plague killed one-fourth of the European population and the scientists became more determined to search for practical, effective methods of dealing with medical problems. This marked the begin­ning of the scientific approach to medicine.

During the Renaissance laws forbidding the dissection of cadavers were relaxed and as a result, the first accurate textbook on human anatomy was published.

In the early 1600s, the English physician William Harvey discovered how blood circulates in the body and published the first medical book describing this circulation and the role of the heart. In 1667, the first blood transfusion was performed.

In the 19^th century, modern surgery was made possible by two revolution­ary discoveries: the invention of safe methods of anesthesia and the control of wound infection by the use of antiseptics and sterile equipment. Besides a set of diagnostic procedures, requiring a complete case history and a thorough physical examination, become common medical practice. In 1895, Roentgen discovered the X-ray to detect abnormalities inside the body.

The 20^th century has brought medical advances in nearly every area of medi­cine. Open-heart surgery has been developed. Organ transplants are often suc­cessful. Vaccines have almost eliminated the threat of poliomyelitis. The elec­trocardiogram (EKG), electroencephalogram (EEG) and computed tomography help physicians to detect heart and brain malfunctions. Due to early diagnosis and more effective treatment more and more cancer victims are surviving. X-ray examination helps to make more accurate diagnosis and more effective treat­ment. Lasers become very helpful in surgery. As people change their lifestyles and their environment new diseases appear. That's why health workers always search for better medical care.

3. Post-reading activities

3.1 Answer the questions to the text:

1. What was the desease caused by in the view of the prehistoric man? 2. What methods of treatment did the healers use? 3. What custom was there in Babylon? 4. When were laws forbidding the dissection of cadavers relaxed? 5. Who published the first medical book describing this circulation and the role of the heart? 6. When did Roentgen discover the X-ray to detect abnormalities inside the body? 7. What has the 20^th century brought in nearly every area of medi­cine?

3.2 Say if it true or false:

1. Early man may have attributed desease to a separation of soul and body.

2. The clinical medicine and safeguard of people's health greatly developed in Roman times.

3. Galen worked first as a surgeon at a school for gladiators in Rome.

4. In the middle of the 14^th century the bubonic plague killed one-third of the European population.

5. In the early 1600s, the English physician William Harvey discovered the role of the lungs.

6. As people change their lifestyles and their environment new diseases appear.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-11