History of medicine - Essay Example Starting with the English medical professions in the 17th and 18th centuries, one of the most major and significant factors here is the fact that of little was actually known in regards to the field of medicine itself; "Very little was known about hygiene in the 17th century. People were not aware that disease was spread by germs which thrived on dirt. They did not think of washing their hands before eating or dressing a wound, so diseases could spread quickly" (National Maritime Museum, 2007). One of the most influential doctors in the medical profession at this time was Nicholas Culpeper, who was an English botanist, herbalist, physician, and astrologer, and who also published several books in his time. Culpeper worked to "bring medicinal treatments from the mysterious to the comprehensible. His philosophy was to teach the common folk to minister to themselves by providing them with the tools and knowledge for self health" (Wikipedia, 2007).
