Medieval Superstitions & Medicine

Use the following websites to start your research:

1. http://listverse.com/2014/03/03/10-completely-uncanny-superstitions-from-the-middle-ages/
2. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8913709/Tony-Robinson-on-the-top-fivesuperstitions-that-gripped-medieval-Britain.html
3. http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/13-strange-superstitions
4. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/health_and_medicine_in_medieval_.htm
5. http://listverse.com/2013/07/31/10-bizarre-medieval-medical-practices/
6. https://www.aimseducation.edu/blog/medieval-medical-practices-still-use-today/
After skimming the websites above, choose the 1 superstition AND the 1 medical
practice that intrigue you the MOST. Continue your narrowed research to learn the
specific details of each. Compile a list of at least 10 facts about each. Bookmark the
website(s) where you found your information on your Pearltrees account.
Superstition: The Wild Man of Orford
1. The merman was found and caught by fisherman
2. There are two different descriptions on the appearance of the merman: one says
he was hairy at the chest but bare at the chin with a giant fin and a pair of legs
then the other description is that he was hairy everywhere including his chin with
legs
3. The merman could not speak
4. The merman was brought back to the castle and tortured because he would not
speak
5. There are two different descriptions on the mermans diet: one says he ate
whatever was given to him but what surprised them the most was when he was
given fish he drained the blood from the fish then ate the remains then the other
says that when he was given fish he drained the blood and drank
6. The people let the merman go for a swim one day but set up nets so the merman
couldnt escape
7. There are two different theories about the mermans escape: one theory is that
while the merman was swimming he managed to escape through the nets, ended
up being captured again some time later, but escaped again then another theory
is that the merman escaped under the nets while swimming but was never seen
again
8. Its still a mystery weather the merman was a fish, a man, or an evil spirit in a
dead sailors body.
9. The merman was caught around 1167
10.
The order for the merman to be tortured was by Bartholomew de Granville

Medical Practice: Hot Iron for hemorrhoids

1. An alternative to treatment for hemorrhoids was to sit on St. Fiacres famous
rock
2. Patients were sent to monks for the treatment
3. The monks would put re-hot iron in the patients anus
4. This treatment was continued til the 12th century
5. The disease was often called St. Fiacres curse in the Middle Ages.
6. The purpose for using the hot iron was to burn away the hemorrhoids
7. Jewish physician Moses Maimonides wrote a seven-chapter treatise on
hemorrhoids
8. Moses Maimonides changed the view on hemorrhoid treatment
9. Moses Maimonides instead recommended a soak in the tub
10. Its believed that the cause of hemorrhoids was not praying to St. Fiacre (the
protector against hemorrhoids)