Medical Matters- Then and Now

• History
• Primary Education

Medical Matters- Then and Now

Medical Matters 

Medicine and illness were very different matters just over 100 years ago. 

This session will help you understand some of the amazing advances we have made today, and allow you to compare them to the recent past.

We will also test your knowledge of cures and treatments!

What is your understanding of what a "cure" is?

A Cure

This is a treatment, action or substance that relieves someone of their illness or symptoms of unwellness. 

Cures

In the old days in Ireland, people without the understanding of science often blamed illness on invisible outside forces, bad luck or enemies who could cause harm. Many used folk cures alongside conventional medical treatments  for the treatment of the most common and non-serious ailments. Some of these cures involved rituals, magic or verbal charms.

 

Outside help could be sought in the form of a practitioner of folk medicine such as a faith healer, herbalist or a person with 'the cure' for a particular disorder. Healers were important and obtaining a cure often had some benefits to patients, even if the actual cure had no scientifically proven advantage.

How do we treat illnesses today?

Cure Quiz

In this quiz, you'll see some things that were recommended as cures for various ailments. Can you guess what they were thought to treat? You might be surprised!

Honey

1. Dandruff
2. Itchy noses
3. Stomach aches
4. Cuts/wounds

Bread Poultice

Bread Poultice

This is a substance made up of bread and milk mashed together, sometimes with herbs. It forms a thick paste

1. Itchy eyes
2. Stomach aches
3. Infected wounds/cuts
4. Tooth ache

Smoking

Smoking- really?

Yes! Before we knew how dangerous smoking was for our bodies, it used to be prescribed as a treatment. But for what?

1. Sore throats
2. Blocked noses
3. Asthma
4. Insomnia (inability to sleep)

Blacksmith's
forge water

Forge Water

When shaping metal for tools, the blacksmith will cool or "quench" his work in a trough of water, to harden it after shaping. 

1. Sore throats
2. Chicken pox
3. Warts
4. Hair lice

Baby syrup
(containing alcohol and morphine)

Syrup

This was a sweet liquid given to babies in medicine form. At the time, the  "soothing" properties of alcohol and morphine were valued and many parents were unaware of the ingredients- and the risks. 

1. Teething
2. Bed wetting
3. Sleeping too much
4. Sleeping too little

Research Task

Go home and ask your grown ups what cures they remember from when they were growing up. You might get some interesting answers!

Do you think our modern cures are better than the old ones?

Yes

Maybe

No

Then or now?

Discuss in a group your answers to the previous poll. Who thinks the older cures are better? Who disagrees? Why?

How did you enjoy this lesson?

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