Medieval and early modern European medicine

In western Europe the collapse of Roman imperial authority led to a halt to the development of organised medical practice. Medicine became localised, with folk-medicine augmenting what remained of the medical knowledge of antiquity. Medical knowledge was preserved and practised in many monastic institutions, which often had a hospital attached. Organised professional medicine re-emerged, with the foundation of the medical college of Salerno in Italy in the 11th century, which in co-operation with the monastery of Monte Cassino, translated many Byzantine and Arabic works. In the twelfth century universities were founded in Italy and elsewhere, which soon developed schools of medicine. Gradually the reliance on the masters of the ancient world was augmented by the results of individual observation and experience. Surgical practice improved greatly during the medieval period. Rogerius Salernitanus composed his Chirurgia, laying the foundation for modern Western surgical manuals up to the modern time. With the renaissance came an increase in experimental investigation, principally in dissection and examining bodies. The work of individuals like Andreas Vesalius and William Harvey challenged accepted folklore with scientific evidence. The development of modern neurology began in the 16th century with Vesalius, who described the anatomy of the brain and much else; he had little notion of function, thinking that it lay mainly in the ventricles. Understanding and diagnosis improved but with little direct benefit to health. Few effective drugs existed, beyond opium and quinine, folklore cures and potentially poisonous metal-based compounds were popular treatments.

Important figures:

• Oribasius, the greatest Byzantine compiler of medical knowledge.
• Theodoric Borgognoni, (1205-1296), one of the most significant surgeons of the medieval period, responsible for introducing and promoting important surgical advances including basic antiseptic practice and the use of anaesthetics.
• Guy de Chauliac, considered to be one of the earliest fathers of modern surgery, after the great Islamic surgeon, El Zahrawi.
• Realdo Colombo, anatomist and surgeon who contributed to understanding of lesser circulation.
• Michael Servetus, considered to be the first European to discover the pulmonary circulation of the blood.
• Ambroise Paré suggested using ligatures instead of cauterisation and tested the bezoar stone
• William Harvey describes blood circulation.
• John Hunter, surgeon.
• Amato Lusitano described venous valves and guessed their function.
• Garcia de Orta first to describe Cholera and other tropical diseases and herbal treatments
• Percivall Pott, surgeon.
• Sir Thomas Browne physician and medical neologist.
• Thomas Sydenham physician and so-called "English Hippocrates."
• Andreas Vesalius Belgian physician, anatomist, "The father of modern medicine"
• Actuarius, the last great Byzantine Physician, who lived in the early 14th century Constantinople