Renaissance Medical Advancements and the Royal Society
The 16th and 17th centuries marked a pivotal transformation in medical understanding, driven by key figures and institutional developments. 16th century medical advancements under Vesalius challenged traditional beliefs through systematic observation and documentation.
Highlight: Vesalius conducted public dissections using executed criminals' bodies, reconstructing human skeletal structure and identifying 300 errors in Galen's work.
Example: One significant correction was disproving Galen's claim that the womb moves around the body like a dog.
Definition: The medical renaissance represented a shift from reliance on ancient texts to direct observation and experimental evidence.
Thomas Sydenham, known as the English Hippocrates, further advanced medical practice by:
- Distinguishing between measles and scarlet fever
- Publishing "Observationes Medicae" in 1676
- Promoting symptom observation and specific remedies
The Royal Society's influence on modern medicine became evident through:
- Its first meeting at Gresham College in 1660
- Receiving royal charter from Charles II in 1662
- Publishing "Philosophical Transactions" in English rather than Latin
- Establishing peer review processes
Vocabulary: Peer review - The evaluation of scientific work by other experts in the field.
William Harvey's contributions included:
- Discovering blood circulation
- Studying at Cambridge and Padua
- Serving as a royal physician
- Teaching anatomy at the College of Physicians
Quote: "The Royal Society encouraged arguments over new theories, allowing them to be confirmed or dismissed through the medical community."
