Difference between revisions of "Medicine"

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[[Smallfolk|Commoners]] usually do not have access to a [[Maesters|Maester's]] services, like those who are rich or members of noble houses do, and have to rely on travelling barbers, local healers, midwives, [[hedge wizard]]s, [[woods witch]]es, and their own knowledge of herbs.
 
[[Smallfolk|Commoners]] usually do not have access to a [[Maesters|Maester's]] services, like those who are rich or members of noble houses do, and have to rely on travelling barbers, local healers, midwives, [[hedge wizard]]s, [[woods witch]]es, and their own knowledge of herbs.
  
Wounds are often cleaned with boiling [[wine]], or treated with [[Myrish fire]] or [[firemilk]], both of which burn on contact. Maggots may be used if a wound is going rotten, as the maggots eat out the rotten parts. Maesters also learn to stitch wounds closed, and can use poultices containing mustard seeds, nettles, and [[w:Penicillin|bread mold]] to prevent infection. Leeches are also used to drain bad blood that builds up in wounds. Pain can be dulled with potions containing opiates such as [[milk of the poppy]] or [[dreamwine]], or by chewing [[w:Willow|willow]] [[w:Bark (botany)|bark]]. Vinegar is used to disinfect surgical instruments.
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Wounds are often cleaned with boiling [[wine]], or treated with [[Myrish fire]] or [[firemilk]], both of which burn on contact. Maggots may be used if a wound is going rotten, as the maggots eat out the rotten parts. Maesters also learn to stitch wounds closed, and can use poultices containing mustard seeds, nettles, and [[w:Penicillin|bread mold]] to prevent infection. Leeches are also used to drain bad blood that builds up in wounds. Pain can be dulled with potions containing opiates such as [[milk of the poppy]] or [[dreamwine]], or by chewing [[w:Willow#Medicinal|willow bark]] or [[sourleaf]]. Vinegar is used to disinfect surgical instruments.
  
 
Fractured limbs are immobilized using plasters until the bones are joined up. [[Moon tea]] is used as contraceptive, and to deal with unwanted pregnancies.
 
Fractured limbs are immobilized using plasters until the bones are joined up. [[Moon tea]] is used as contraceptive, and to deal with unwanted pregnancies.
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* [[Bronze pate]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: Sothoryos}}
 
* [[Bronze pate]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: Sothoryos}}
 
* [[Brownleg]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: Sothoryos}}
 
* [[Brownleg]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: Sothoryos}}
 +
* Burst belly{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}, the Westerosi equivalent to [[w:Appendicitis|appendicitis]]<ref>
 +
Penguin Random House: [https://youtu.be/EXZE_KQnat4 A Conversation with George R R Martin] (at 17min56s)</ref>
 
* Clotted lung{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}
 
* Clotted lung{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}
 
* [[w:Tuberculosis|Consumption]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}
 
* [[w:Tuberculosis|Consumption]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}

Revision as of 13:43, 17 January 2023

Medicine in the Seven Kingdoms, and in the Known World, often plays a key role in the quality of life of its inhabitants. In addition to common healers, midwives, and bonesetters, there are a number of different orders practicing medicine, such as the Maesters of the Citadel.

Treatment

Commoners usually do not have access to a Maester's services, like those who are rich or members of noble houses do, and have to rely on travelling barbers, local healers, midwives, hedge wizards, woods witches, and their own knowledge of herbs.

Wounds are often cleaned with boiling wine, or treated with Myrish fire or firemilk, both of which burn on contact. Maggots may be used if a wound is going rotten, as the maggots eat out the rotten parts. Maesters also learn to stitch wounds closed, and can use poultices containing mustard seeds, nettles, and bread mold to prevent infection. Leeches are also used to drain bad blood that builds up in wounds. Pain can be dulled with potions containing opiates such as milk of the poppy or dreamwine, or by chewing willow bark or sourleaf. Vinegar is used to disinfect surgical instruments.

Fractured limbs are immobilized using plasters until the bones are joined up. Moon tea is used as contraceptive, and to deal with unwanted pregnancies.

Diseases and Illness

Minor colds, fevers, and fluxes are rarely deadly or even seriously debilitating. The bloody flux is quite serious and often deadly. Whores often carry unpleasant poxes and venereal diseases.[1]

A number of diseases can be contracted primarily during childhood. Redspots is common, but it never kills anyone under the age of ten, and once you have had it you are immune to it for the rest of your life. However, adults who did not contract it in childhood remain at risk of infection.[2] Greyscale is rarely fatal to children, but nearly always fatal to adults. It makes the skin grey and hard as stone, and often leaves its survivors disfigured.[3]

List of known diseases and illnesses

Epidemics

Poisons

Many poisons are used throughout the Seven Kingdoms and in the East. Although the Maesters of the Citadel study the histories and qualities of various poisons in addition to their healing arts, their use seems to be more widespread in the free cities and the assassins guilds.

References

  1. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 6, Jon I.
  2. 2.0 2.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.
  3. A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: Sothoryos.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  6. Penguin Random House: A Conversation with George R R Martin (at 17min56s)
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  8. 8.0 8.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
  9. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 71, Catelyn XI.
  10. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 18, The Iron Captain.
  11. 11.0 11.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: Ten Thousand Ships.
  12. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
  13. The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: Naath.
  14. The Rogue Prince.
  15. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 68, Daenerys IX.
  16. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 28, Bran IV.
  17. Fire & Blood, Reign of the Dragon - The Wars of King Aegon I.
  18. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I.
  19. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 10, Davos II.
  20. 20.0 20.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
  21. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 65, Arya V.
  22. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 34, Catelyn VI.
  23. Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
  24. The Sworn Sword.
  25. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 59, Catelyn IX.