Principles of Health Science
 Question:
How long has disease been
around?
 Arthritis
(also called “cave gout”) was found
in dinosaurs and prehistoric bears
 Fractures on bones were common

Question: What were some diseases in
primitive man (and woman)?
Tuberculosis and parasite infestations (small
dark pin holes in vertebrae and skull)
 Under calcified bones caused by poor nutrition
 Eroded and decayed teeth caused from
improper diet and gingivitis and
periodontitis(gum disease)
 Women died in difficult childbirth (skeletal
remains found with fetal remains still in pelvis)
 They had to nurse their babies and the best food
went to men so they had weak immune systems

 Question:
How did prehistoric man deal
with illness?
 We



aren’t sure, but we can guess from:
*cave drawings
*bony remains and artifacts
*comparison to primitive societies today
(religion, music and medical treatment mingled
together)
 Question:
Who were the ancient healers?
(Witch doctors or healers)

Question: What were their techniques and tools of
their trade?

Techniques: chanting, praying, hallucinogenic trances
(sometimes it meant frightening evil spirits from
patients and then casting it into a cockroach and
stomping on it; Sucking and vomiting-shaman would
inhale large amounts of tobacco smoke until
nauseated and then right before vomiting with suck
evil spirits out of patient and vomit)

Tools: facial and body paints and medical bags which
held dried plants, herbs, sticks, sucking tubes,
sharpened animal bones, and even human scrotum!
 Question:
How did primitive societies
regard sick or disabled people?
 Cherokees
and Navahos- treated with
kindness and acceptance; North American
Indians were in awe of those that survived
and treated them like gods
 Eskimos- set out old and sickly in unsheltered
areas to die
 Other groups- killed and ate them (to
preserve life force of tribe)
 Question:
How did primitive people regard
mentally ill?
 Some
were shunned- they were thought to
carry evil spirits
 Eskimos and Siberian peoples that this was a
sign of a shaman
 Question:
How did primitives deal with
injuries?
 Sewed
up cuts (lacerations) with strips of
animal tendon and needles made from bone
 Made wood splints and casts from hardened
hides
 Trepanation- drilled hole in skull to “let out
evil spirits”
Question: What medicines were available to
treat disease and disorders?
Drug
Plant Source
Uses
Digitalis
Foxglove
Slows heart
Quinine
Bark of cinchona
tree
Helps with
malaria; controls
fever
Belladonna/
Atropine
Poisonous
nightshade plant
Relieves muscle
spasms
Morphine/ Opium
Poppy
Pain relief
Acetylsalicylic
Acid
Bark of willow
tree
Pain relief; Fever
Medical
Marijuana
Cannabidiol (CBD) Cannabis