Great Medieval Hospitals
The Jerusalem hospital, built by the Order of St. John in the 12th century, was one of
the first great medieval hospitals and the way it was run had a huge influence on the development of others.
In that enormous 2,000-bed hospital, the "sick poor" received nursing care which might surprise 21st century patients.
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... there were separate beds for the sick at a time when only the
grandest lords had their own
beds ... the beds had feather
mattresses and coverlets and the patients were provided with
cloaks and sandals,
so as to protect them when they went to the
latrines ... every Monday and Thursday barbers employed by the
Order
washed the feet of the sick with hot water, removed hard flesh
with pumice stones and dried their feet with soft
towels. |
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From 'The Hospitallers' by Prof. J Riley-Smith |
The main Order hospital was always at its headquarters and there were smaller ones, usually along pilgrim routes. Each
hospital was run by a knight and nursing the sick was part of the duty of all knights. Given the crusading warrior role of
the Hospitallers, it is perhaps unexpected that people of all religions were treated...
...knowing that the Lord, who calls all to salvation, does not want
anyone to perish, the hospital
mercifully admits men of the Muslim
faith and Jews...
Much of the Hospitallers' medical work in the middle ages is unexpectedly close to trends in modern health care. They believed
the quality of nursing care was the key to recovery in most cases, used surgery only as a last resort, had an excellent knowledge
of natural and herbal medicines and understood the significance of hygiene, tranquility and isolation.
