Since ancient times, there were people studying medicine and trying to provide assistance to their fellows in the fight against disease and pain. The oldest medical practices have been preserved as documents in monasteries, which were the earliest centres of medieval medicine. The Benedictines were the foremost healing-oriented order. Unlike the town physicians, they provided care free of charge.
In the 11th century, hospitals underwent noticeable development, particularly thanks to the knightly orders devoted to charity, and the building of hospitals and hospices for pilgrims. Care for the sick was entrusted exclusively to men; women and nuns were forbidden from helping out in the infirmaries by the Church Council.
The treatment of wounds mostly consisted of disinfection by means of a hot iron, flushing with water or applying various ointments and balms. Bandages were of linen or canvas cloth. Open wounds and inflammations were treated with herbal poultices. Soldiers often had to be able to help themselves, because the field ambulances were unable to follow on behind the military encampments fast enough. The wounded frequently failed to survive being carted around for several days in open wagons.
Since ancient times, there were people studying medicine and trying to provide assistance to their fellows in the fight against disease and pain. The oldest medical practices have been preserved as documents in monasteries, which were the earliest centres of medieval medicine. The Benedictines were the foremost healing-oriented order. Unlike the town physicians, they provided care free of charge.
In the 11th century, hospitals underwent noticeable development, particularly thanks to the knightly orders devoted to charity, and the building of hospitals and hospices for pilgrims. Care for the sick was entrusted exclusively to men; women and nuns were forbidden from helping out in the infirmaries by the Church Council.
The treatment of wounds mostly consisted of disinfection by means of a hot iron, flushing with water or applying various ointments and balms. Bandages were of linen or canvas cloth. Open wounds and inflammations were treated with herbal poultices. Soldiers often had to be able to help themselves, because the field ambulances were unable to follow on behind the military encampments fast enough. The wounded frequently failed to survive being carted around for several days in open wagons.