The evolution of medicine

Medicine before the 5th century B.C.

Read the text and answer the questions:

Medicine has come long way since prehistoric times, when early humans attributed most diseases to the influence of malevolent demons who entered the body of unsuspecting victims. 

Paleopathologists have found evidence indicating that preventive medicine in those days involved the use of magic, and lucky charms to ward off evil spirits. If demons did manage to enter the body, then efforts were made to render it uninhabitable by beating, torturing, or starving the patient. Attempts were also made to expel demons by using potions that induced violent vomiting or by drilling a hole in the skull from which a demon could be driven out. 

Not surprisingly, such therapies had limited success, but to their credit our Neolithic ancestors were better at dealing with wounds and fractured bones. Limited progress was made by the Egyptians and other Mesopotamian cultures, but the real breakthrough was made by the Greek physician Hippocrates in the 5th century B.C. Challenging the idea that disease was punishment sent from the gods, he is believed to have been the first to suggest a connection between disease and unsanitary environmental conditions such as poor water and food quality.

1.In the view of our early ancestors, what was the cause of most diseases?

1. unsanitary environmental conditions
2. malevolent demons
3. starvation and thirst 

2.Which is an example of preventive medicine before the 5th century B.C.?

1. charms and magic tricks 
2. pray to gods
3. pills and surgery

3.What was the important contribution of Hippocrates?

1. He helped dealing with wounds and fractured bones
2. Suggested drilling a hole in the patient’s skull in order to ward the demon off 
3. Suggested that the unhealthy living conditions and the bad diet cause diseases

2. Look at the word in bold and match them with their meaning below:

1. say (something) is caused by =
2. evil, harmful =
3. keep away =
4. make, cause to become =
5. not appropriate to live in =
6. force to leave =
7. magical drinks or liquids =
8. produce, cause, bring about =
9. broken =
10. important development =
11. doctor =
12. unclean and unhealthy =

3. Match the pictures with the most appropriate word of the text. The words in green will help you.