Ancient Medicine, Magical Uses

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BRING TO CLASS 6th Grade Reading

Galen and the Four Humors Hippocrates, an Ancient Greek physician and the father of Western medicine, believed that human beings consisted of both a soul and a body and that illness resulted not from the displeasure of the gods (which some Ancient Greeks believed), but from an imbalance (dyscrasia – bad mixture) of bodily fluids which were naturally equal in proportion (pepsis). These bodily fluids had to be restored to balance (eucrasia – wellness, balance) in order for a person to be free from illness. Eating the wrong foods, for example, could result in dangerous fluids in the body, which would give off vapors that could make people unwell. Why does the author include the italicized words in parentheses? a. To introduce the reader to the medical terminology that’s used today b. To define the terms that Hippocrates himself used in Ancient Greece c. To demonstrate the author’s knowledge of Ancient Greek language and customs d. To expose the reader to a new language that he/she will have to know How did Hippocrates believe that illness could be cured? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The four fluids were referred to as the Four Humors (from the Latin “humor,” meaning “fluid”). Galen, another Greek physician, admired Hippocrates and elaborated on many of his teachings. He wrote an essay entitled Die Temperamentis in which he attempted to determine reasons for different behaviors in humans. Like Hippocrates, he believed that different behaviors and personalities had to do with an imbalance in the Four Humors. Interactive Task: While you’re reading, try to determine which one of the Four Humors dominates your personality. Underline lines from the text that support your thinking.

The Four Temperaments Sanguine corresponds to the bodily fluid of blood. A person who is sanguine is generally optimistic, cheerful, even-tempered, confident, popular, and fun-loving. He/she sometimes might daydream too much – to the point of not accomplishing anything. He/she also might be impulsive, acting on whims in an unpredictable fashion. Sanguines usually have a lot of energy, but they may have a problem finding a way to direct this energy. Choleric corresponds to the bodily fluid of yellow bile. A person who is choleric is a doer and a leader. They have a lot of ambition, energy, and drive and they try to install that in others. However, they can dominate people of other temperaments, especially phlegmatic types. Many charismatic military and political figures were cholerics. On the negative side, they are easily angered or bad-tempered. (In folk medicine, a baby referred to as “colic” is one who cries all the time and seems to be constantly angry.)

Melancholic corresponds to the bodily fluid of black bile (which doesn’t actually exist – however, the medulla of the adrenal glands decomposes very quickly after death; the Ancient Greeks may have seen the decomposed glands and thought of them as being “black bile”). A person who is melancholic is thoughtful and pensive. Often very kind and considerate, melancholics can be highly creative – as in poets and artists – but can also become overly-obsessed by the tragedy and cruelty in the world, thus becoming depressed. A melancholic is often a perfectionist, being very particular about what they want and how they want it. This often results in being dissatisfied with one’s own artistic or creative works, always pointing out to themselves what could and should be improved. Phlegmatic corresponds to the bodily fluid of phlegm. While phlegmatics are generally self-confident and kind, their shy personality can often make them seem lazy and resistant to change. They are consistent, relaxed, and observant, making them good administrators and diplomats (people sent as representatives to foreign countries). Like the sanguine personality, the phlegmatic has many friends. But the phlegmatic is more reliable and compassionate; these characteristics typically make the phlegmatic a more dependable friend. [CHECK ONE] I am . . .  Sanguine  Choleric  Melancholic  Phlegmatic Which of the Four Humors do you think dominates Winnie’s personality? Why do you think that? Use evidence from both the article and Tuck Everlasting. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Which of the Four Humors do you think dominates Jesse’s personality? Why do you think that? Use evidence from both the article and Tuck Everlasting. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The four humors theory was to become a prevalent medical theory for over a millennium after Galen’s death. The theory experienced widespread popularity throughout the Middle Ages and was eventually called humorism. Humoral practioners (doctors) used the theory to explain many illnesses of the time. Use of various remedies become common, especially when a person was considered to have too much of a particular fluid. For example, blood-letting from the veins (making a cut and then letting the blood drain out of the body) was performed when certain conditions were reported. By the 18th century, medicine was advancing rapidly. The discoveries of the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems and their purposes disproved the four humors theory. However, it remained important in terms of understanding personality. Swiss scientist Johann Kaspar Lavater used the four humors to create four specific personality types that could be identified by someone’s facial structures, expressions, and colorations. In the late 19th/early 20th century physiologist Wilhelm Wundt became the first to separate personality from human body functions. He believed that temperaments couldn’t simply be limited to the bodily fluids. He believed that no individual was completely of one temperament; rather that everyone was a

mixture of two or more temperaments. He believed that all four temperaments were basic dimensions of the human personality. The rapid growth of the field of psychology beginning in the early 20th century led to increased interest in individual personality. Notably, Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung categorized mental functioning into four categories: sensing, intuition, thinking, and feeling. The information in the chart best reflects which line from the article? a. “By the 18th century, medicine was advancing rapidly.” b. “He believed that all four temperaments were basic dimensions of the human personality.” c. “Humoral practioners (doctors) used the theory to explain many illnesses of the time.” d. “The four humors theory was to become a prevalent medical theory for over a millennium after Galen’s death.” Blood-letting may have been a cure used when a person was diagnosed as being . . . a. Sanguine b. Choleric c. Melancholic d. Phlegmatic What led to the end of the four humors theory being used in medical treatment? a. Scientists discovered that the Four Humors only related to personality, not bodily fluids. b. Scientists discovered the purposes of different systems in the human body. c. Scientists discovered that illness could be diagnosed by looking at a person’s facial structure and expression. d. Scientists discovered that all people have a mixture of all four humors inside of them.

Sounds kind of like . . .

HermIone GranGer’s mapp merIt CHallenGe: What does the Latin Hogwarts motto – “Draco dormiens nunquam titilandus” – mean? (5 MM) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Hogwarts, all students are sorted into a house – Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff. Students stay with that house for all seven years of their education; they eat their meals together, take most of their classes together, and even sleep in the same dormitory! The Sorting Hat (a magical hat) determines where you belong based on your personality. So what are these four houses all about?

Interactive Task: Underline trait words (like “compassionate”) that describe each of the four houses. From Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: In times of old when I was new And Hogwarts barely started The Founders of our noble school Thought never to be parted: United by a common goal, They had the selfsame yearning To make the world's best magic school And pass along their learning. "Together we will build and teach!" The Four good friends decided And never did they dream that they Might someday be divided, For were there such friends anywhere As Slytherin and Gryffindor? Unless it was the second pair Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw? So how could it have gone so wrong? How could such friendships fail? Why, I was there and so can tell The whole sad, sorry tale. Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those Whose ancestry is purest." Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose

Intelligence is surest." Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those With brave deeds to their name," Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot, And treat them just the same." These differences caused little strife When first they came to light, For each of the four founders had A House in which they might Take only those they wanted, so, For instance, Slytherin Took only pure-blood wizards Of great cunning, just like him, And only those of sharpest mind Were taught by Ravenclaw While the bravest and the boldest Went to daring Gryffindor, Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest, And taught them all she knew, Thus the Houses and their founders Retained friendships firm and true. So Hogwarts worked in harmony For several happy years, But the discord crept among us Feeding on our faults and fears.

The Houses that, like pillars four, Had once held up our school, Now turned upon each other and, Divided, sought to rule . . . And now the Sorting Hat is here And you all know the score: I sort you into Houses Because that is what I'm for, But this year I'll go further, Listen closely to my song: Though condemned I am to split you Still I worry that it's wrong, Though I must fulfill my duty And must quarter every year Still I wonder whether sorting May not bring the end I fear. Oh, know the perils, read the signs, The warning history shows, For our Hogwarts is in danger From external, deadly foes And we must unite inside her Or we'll crumble from within I have told you, I have warned you . . . Let the sorting now begin

Which word best describes the relationship between the founders when they started Hogwarts? a. Solemn b. Exasperated c. Distant d. Friendly Which line best foreshadows what will happen later in the poem? a. “United by a common goal,/ They had the selfsame yearning” b. “’Together we will build and teach!’/ The Four good friends decided” c. “And never did they dream that they/ Might someday be divided” d. “For were there such friends anywhere/ As Slytheirn and Gryffindor?” How is the Sorting Hat able to tell the story of what happened to the founders? a. The founders told him the entire story. b. The Sorting Hat was at Hogwarts when the founders argued. c. The founders tried to keep their argument secret but the Sorting Hat found out. d. The Sorting Hat knows everything that has ever happened in history. Why didn’t the founders have a problem with each other at first? a. They all agreed about the type of student that should be accepted into Hogwarts. b. They decided not to start a wizarding school after all. c. They wanted to help their students develop all of the qualities they thought were important. d. They each had a different house where they could accept the students they wanted.

Why did the time of “harmony” at Hogwarts turn to “discord”? a. Each founder wanted to be the headmaster of Hogwarts. b. The founders all wanted to leave and start separate schools. c. The students did not want to be divided into separate houses. d. The houses turned against each other and fought for control. What is the theme of this poem? a. We must work together to succeed. b. Be careful what you wish for. c. Stand up for what you believe in. d. Know who your friends and your enemies are. What is the tone of this poem? a. Cheerful b. Anguished c. Grim d. Elated

Think back to Galen . . . Which Hogwarts house corresponds to which of the Four Humors? (REMEMBER: The Four Humors are sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic)

Gryffindor = _________________________________________________ Hufflepuff = __________________________________________________ Ravenclaw = _________________________________________________ Slytherin = ___________________________________________________ Explain your reasoning. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Phrenology Could a bump on the back of your head offer a clue to your inner personality? This idea was a central theme in the pseudoscience (disproved, made-up science) known as phrenology, a study that involved linking bumps on a person’s head to a certain aspect of the individual’s personality and character.

A Brief History of Phrenology Phrenology was developed by a German physician named Franz Joseph Gall in the late 1700s. Gall noticed that the cerebral cortex of humans was much larger than that of animals, which he believed was what made humans intellectually superior. Eventually, he became convinced that the physical features of the cortex could also be seen in the shape and size of the skull. Just examining the heads of a number of young pickpockets, Gall found that many of them had bumps on their skull just above the ears. He then suggested that the bumps, indentations, and shape of the skull could be linked to different aspects of a person’s personality, character, and abilities. With his young pickpockets, for example, he suggested that the bump behind their ears was associated with a tendency to steal, lie, or deceive. Gall sought support for his ideas by measuring the skulls of people in prisons, hospitals, and asylums – especially those with odd-shaped heads. Based on what he found, Gall developed a system of 27 different “faculties” that he believed could be directly diagnosed by looking at specific parts of the head. He created a chart that showed which areas of the skull were associated with specific traits or characteristics. (You can see that chart on the cover of this packet.)

The 27 “Faculties” in Phrenology 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Reproductive instincts The love of one’s children Affection and friendship Self-defense, courage, and fighting Murderous instincts Guile, acuteness, and cleverness Sense of property and the tendency to steal 8. Pride, arrogance, haughtiness, love of authority, and loftiness 9. Vanity, ambition, and love of glory 10. Circumspection and forethought 11. Aptitude for being educated 12. Sense of locality and place 13. Recollection of people

14. Verbal memory 15. Language ability 16. The sense of colors 17. Sense for sound and musical talent 18. Mathematical abilities 19. Mechanical abilities 20. Comparative sagacity (wisdom) 21. Metaphysics 22. Satire and wit 23. Poetic talent 24. Kindness, compassion, sensitivity, and moral sense 25. Imitation and mimicry 26. Religiosity 27. Perseverance and firmness

However, Gall’s methods lacked scientific rigor and he chose to simply ignore any evidence that contradicted (went against) his ideas. Despite this, phrenology became increasingly popular from the 1800s well into the 1900s. Gall’s ideas gained many followers, but he began to attract considered criticism from scientists as well as other groups.

Despite phrenology’s brief popularity, it eventually became viewed as a pseudoscience much like astrology, numerology, and palmistry. Criticism from some of the best-known brain researchers played an important role in this reversal of popular views of phrenology. In 1843, Pierre Flourens found that the fundamental assumption of phrenology – that the contours of the skull corresponded to the underlying shape of the brain – was wrong. Phrenology sought to analyze someone’s personality by . . . a. Looking at the size and shape of their skull b. Measuring the distance between their facial features c. Judging if they would be considered attractive d. Looking for abnormalities of the brain The word “faculties” is in quotation marks to show . . . a. That no one believes in Gall’s 27 faculties anymore b. That readers might be unfamiliar with this definition of the word faculties c. That many different scientists have attempted to define faculties d. That there are more than 27 faculties in science Which of the following would be considered most similar to phrenology in the scientific community? a. Chemistry b. Physics c. Neuroscience (the study of the brain) d. Parapsychology (the study of ghosts) Support your answer to the last question with evidence from the text. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sounds kind of like . . .

HermIone GranGer’s mapp merIt CHallenGe: Name all four mascots of the Hogwarts houses. (5MM) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Think about how students are sorted into the four houses at Hogwarts (refer to earlier in the packet). How does phrenology apply? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ While phrenology has been disproven (along with Lavater’s belief that personality type can be determined by looking at facial structure), we still tend to assess people’s personalities based on how they look. Take a look at these famous Harry Potter heroes and villains. Heroes

Villains

Notice anything? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________