Health in the Elizabethan Era

Krystal Burciaga & Ollivia Perea

Jimenez
CP English 1B
13 March 2012

How did Elizabethan living conditions impact the health?

The low life expectancy of
Elizabethans was primarily the
result of disease, aggravated by
poor sanitary conditions.
Vermin: rats and fleas/ lice
(Daily life in Elizabethan England)

Poor living conditions and poor diet

led to many illnesses.
This was felt by both the
wealthy and the poor. The
makeup of the time, had no
regulations. White face powder
was lead based therefore

How were patients diagnosed?

People in that time were diagnosed by
practitioners in the 17th century.
Practitioners thought that the body
was ruled by four fluids, which
determined how you reacted to
various diseases. The four fluids were :
Blood/Sanguine
Phlegm
Yellow bile
Black bile
(Daily life in Elizabethan England)

How were patients treated?

Plants, such as foxglove and marshmallow, were also used
to cure illnesses.
Live worms, fox lungs (for asthma), spiders' webs,
swallows' nests and the skulls of executed criminals were
also highly needed.
To cure a wound: apply cold lotion made of egg yolk, oil of
roses and turpentine.
Some medicines of the time include: tobacco, coffee, tea,
and chocolate.

Video

Works Cited
"Elizabethan Medicine and Illnesses." Elizabethan Medicine and
Illnesses. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2015.
"Health in the 17th Century." : Tudors, Stuarts & Greenwich Fact
Files : History of the Queen's House : The Queen's House : RMG. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2015
"Historical Aspects." Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2015.
Singman, Jeffrey L. Daily life in Elizabethan England. Westport,
Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1995. Print.