Effects Of Science On The Great Awakening

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es came from an imbalance of the four humors, which were the black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood. The ‘humoral theory’ led doctors to the use of ancient herbal cures and also treating illnesses by removing an excess of one humor or attempting to increase another (Cotton).
Arabic doctors set the standard for western European doctors, especially ibn-Sina who was considered the highest medical authority until well into the mid 18th century.. Ibn-Sina was known for his emphasis on theory rather than a reliance on direct observation of medical treatments and their effects on the patients. This obviously did not work as well as planned, and it also discouraged new doctors and herbalists from trying to find new cures for illnesses. While his ideas did set a standard for the training of doctors in this time, they also put a limit on the experimental aspect of medicine. Any doctors who were brave enough to try experimental medicine were usually labeled as insane, and their ideas were cast aside. From then on it was certainly difficult for that doctor to find work. Because of all of these factors, doctors tried not to stray from traditional medicine (Cotton).
Colonists in America brought their own herbs and knowledge with them from home. However, they were willing to experiment with native plants (Cotton). The training of housewives, stockmen, and doctors in the colonies was surprisingly similar. The majority of the training composed of gaining knowledge of the uses of different plants and herbs. One drawback to using herbs as drugs was that the production of these drugs could take up to several weeks, and by that time the patient would most likely be in a state beyond help from herbal cures. Books known as herbals described the use of botanicals in medicine. The doctors, housewives, and stockmen would study these books and use them in their daily life. The best known authors of these books included John Gerald (1597) and N...