The medieval doctors relied on the constellations and the alignment of the planets as their way of figuring out the patients condition. It was assumed that the stars had a direct influence on the human body. The theory was comprised of four "humors" and three "spirits". Early doctors attended courses at an early school of medicine. The most famous school was found in Salerno, Spain. Once the five years of study was finished along with two exams, you were pretty much a doctor once you got your license to practice. When the plague came around, most doctors would try to help but only resulted in making things much worse. Medical practices in Europe were less advanced than they were in the Middle East.
             Medieval surgical instruments included scissors, razors, lancets, needles and speculums. Practical anatomy of the human body such as studying corpses were rarely studied. The treatments were different depending on which physician you went to. Most of the practices were the same and were adopted by a lot of the continent though. One of the best things done in medieval times was to isolate the sick and highly contagious which was considered pretty routine. Usually, when the doctor couldn't do a thing about the patients condition, they called in the Church and had them exorcise the demons or say incantations and prayers over the patient. This didn't really do anything except get the patients hopes up in getting better soon.
             In Chaucer's The Canterbury Tale's, the physician says the origin of his tale is Titus Livius. His story centered around a noble Knight named Virginius and his young daughter of 14 who was being lusted after by a man named Apius. Cladius, a sly dog, was called and him and Apius created a devious plan to get the Knight 's daughter. Happenings occur in which a decision must be made by Virginius' daughter.
             The Knight's daughter chooses death over shame and so wit...