Medieval_Europe Hospital

1 medieval europe

1.1 st giles, norwich
1.2 st. anthony s, london
1.3 st leonards, york

medieval europe

the church @ les invalides in france showing close connection between historical hospitals , churches

the romans first introduced hospitals britain during anglo-saxon period. during period, hospitals confined domestic household or existed small, military hospitals function of caring sick, travellers, , of long-term infirm. during middle ages (476\529–800) , middle time period (ca. 800–1100), rise of christianity had great effect on practice of medicine. church-sponsored hospitals began appear after a.d. 350, furnished bed , board , seldom ventured actual treatment. on next 7 centuries, hospitals gradually passed church monastic control. many christian monasteries became centers of accumulation of medical knowledge , practical experience in europe.

around 529 a.d. st. benedict of nursia (480-543 a.d.), later christian saint, founder of western monasticism , order of st. benedict, today patron saint of europe, established first monastery in europe (monte cassino) on hilltop between rome , naples, became model western monasticism , 1 of major cultural centers of europe throughout middle ages, wrote rule , containing directions monks , christians. rule of saint benedict 1 of important written works in shaping of western civilian society because included written constitution, authority limited law, , degree of democracy. besides, mandated moral obligations care sick. in monte cassino st. benedict founded hospital considered today have been first hospital in europe of new era. there benedictine monks took care of sick , wounded according benedict s rule. monastic routine called hard work. care of sick such important duty caring them enjoined act if served christ directly. benedict founded twelve communities monks @ nearby subiaco (about 64 km east of rome), hospitals settled adjuncts monasteries in order provide charity , care soldiers , patients. since time benedictines involved in healing , caring sick , dying, in many cases medieval medicine closely connected christianity , benedictines in particular. why middle ages called benedictine centuries .

soon many monasteries founded throughout europe, , everywhere there hospitals in monte cassino. 11th century, monasteries training own physicians. ideally, such physicians uphold christianized ideal of healer offered mercy , charity towards patients , soldiers, whatever status , prognosis might be. in 6th–12th centuries benedictines established lots of monk communities of type. , later, in 12th–13th centuries benedictines order built network of independent hospitals, provide general care sick , wounded , treatment of syphilis , isolation of patients communicable disease. hospital movement spread through europe in subsequent centuries, 225-bed hospital being built @ york in 1287 , larger facilities established @ florence, paris, milan, siena, , other medieval big european cities.

in north during late saxon period, monasteries, nunneries, , hospitals functioned site of charity poor. after norman conquest of 1066, hospitals found autonomous, freestanding institutions. dispensed alms , medicine, , generously endowed nobility , gentry counted on them spiritual rewards after death. in time, hospitals became popular charitable houses distinct both english monasteries , french hospitals.

the primary function of medieval hospitals worship god. hospitals contained 1 chapel, @ least 1 clergyman, , inmates expected prayer. worship higher priority care , large part of hospital life until , long after reformation. worship in medieval hospitals served way of alleviating ailments of sick , insuring salvation when relief sickness not achieved.

the secondary function of medieval hospitals charity poor, sick, , travellers. charity provided hospitals surfaced in different ways, including long-term maintenance of infirm, medium-term care of sick, short-term hospitality travellers, , regular distribution of alms poor. though these general acts of charity among medieval hospitals, degree of charity variable. example, institutions perceived religious house or place of hospitality turned away sick or dying in fear difficult healthcare distract worship. others, however, such st. james of northallerton, st. giles of norwich, , st. leonard of york, contained specific ordinances stating must cater sick , entered ill health should allowed stay until recovered or died .

the tertiary function of medieval hospitals support education , learning. originally, hospitals educated chaplains , priestly brothers in literacy , history; however, 13th century, hospitals became involved in education of impoverished boys , young adults. after, hospitals began provide food , shelter scholars within hospital in return helping chapel worship.

three well-documented medieval european hospitals st. giles in norwich, st. anthony s in london, , st. leonards in york. st. giles, along st. anthony s , st. leonards, open ward hospitals cared poor , sick in 3 of medieval england s largest cities. study of these 3 hospitals can provide insight diet, medical care, cleanliness , daily life in medieval hospital of europe.

st giles, norwich

discrepancies exist among sources regarding founding of st. giles of norwich, or great hospital known today. sources maintain founded in 1246. other sources state founded in 1249. though date may debatable, seems agreed upon great hospital founded walter suffield, bishop known liberal poor in city of norwich. st giles provided thirty beds , maintained within ten-acre precinct, many meadows courtyards, ponds, , fruit trees until late fifteenth century. hospital cultivated many productive gardens abundant in apples, leeks, garlic, onions , honey. gardens productive surplus goods sold on open market. st giles of norwich owned 6 manors , advowson of eleven churches.

st giles unique in food provided children getting free education elsewhere. noted st giles arranged 7 poor scholars receive board @ hospital during term @ norwich school. accommodations of medieval hospitals communal. example, in st giles, master , brothers ate in common hall while sisters ate themselves. st giles hospital complex building housed community of clergy cloister , residential accommodation, hospital , parish church. st giles wealthy enough maintain own kitchen , staff. allowed poor men receive dish of meat, fish, eggs or cheese in addition customary daily ration of bread , drink.

st. anthony s, london

st. anthony s erected in thirteenth century (some time before 1254), in heart of london on threadneedle street, atop less ideal site of jewish synagogue. chapel of st. anthony s built in 1310 without permission of bishop of london. prevents degradation, hospital petitioned chapel on bishops terms. unlike st. giles, there insufficient land @ st. anthony s, london, recreation or food production. result, herbs or erbys , vegetables had bought on daily basis consumption entire community. accounts of foreign expenses @ st. anthony s show purchase of various spices, intrinsic medicinal qualities alter level of heat , moisture within body. of spices bought include, saffron, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, lavender, pepper , mustard. interestingly, amount spent on herbs, produce, , spices far surpassed amount spent on fish , meat. according quarterly expenditure reports, fifty-eight percent of quarterly budget spent on meat, thirty-four percent on fish, 3 percent on pottage, 2 percent on dairy, 1 percent herbs , 1 percent on eggs. unusually detailed records of diet , expenditures @ st. anthony s have revealed diet of clerical establishment ( hall ) , diets of almsmen, patients , children ( hospital ) quite different , class-based. during typical week, entire community shared dishes of pottage, veal, mutton , eggs; hall alone consumed pork, ribs of roast beef, duck, fresh salmon , eels; , hospital supplied mutton, plaice , haddock. clear hall, or more wealthy, enjoyed extravagant meals of meat , fish, while hospital, patients , poor, fed simpler , cheaper food.

in addition reputation of spending lavishly on food, st. anthony s famous grammar school, choir , pigs, roamed freely among streets identified bells. pigs on sale in london, considered officials unfit food handed on st. anthony s. pigs fed through charity or scavenging , later, when condition improved, taken hospital use food poor or sick.

as mentioned, medieval hospitals became concerned in education , in feeding , housing of students thirteenth century. in 1441, john carpenter, master of st. anthony london, able finance grammar school teachings without fees student. first source of free education in london , remained 1 of london s leading schools 1 hundred years following founding.

in 1449, st. anthony s received handsome legacy support of clerk train scholars in both polyphony , plainsong. st. anthony s became famous choir in 1469, royal minstrels set fraternity @ hospital may study music.

st leonards, york

st leonard s 1 on england s largest , richest hospitals primary purpose of caring poor, sick, old , infirm. maintained 200 beds , in prosperous days, maintained eighteen clergy, 16 sister , female servants, 30 choristers, 10 private boarders (corrodarians) , between 144 , 240 poor sick people. additionally, during easter of 1370, records show accommodation of 224 sick , poor in infirmary , 23 children in orphanage.

the records of st leonard provide best details of daily hospital worship , patient life. in 1249, example, matins , lauds said in morning hours of darkness, followed mass of virgin mary held members of clergy. lesser hours , mass of day said @ mid-morning, vespers in afternoon , compline in evening after supper. sisters @ st. leonard s instructed feed poor , sick, wash them, , lead them around grounds. although food given sick simple, , quite cheap, daily provisions, sisters allowed distribute special food if ill.

at st leonard s, charity , care sick not given inmates of hospitals, poor in other neighboring institutions inmates of local leper houses. additionally, 1 or 2 of chaplains @ st leonard s instructed minister spiritually poor speaking consoling words, hearing confessions, , administering sacraments .