What are continuity and change?
Continuity is when something stays the same. This could be an attitude, belief of a medical practice. Change is when something different happens. This might be a new attitude or belief, or a new treatment.
Why is it important that we study continuity and change?
Medicine through time is a development study so its important that we look at how and why things have got from where they were in the past to how they are today. This allows us to compare the key features of different societies at different periods of time.
What examples are there of continuity over time?
Lots of things have stayed the same throughout time. Thing about what you do if you’re feeling unwell. The odds are that you’ll ask your parents for advice. This hasn’t changed through time. Usually its your mother that you’d ask, again this is something that hasn’t changed over time. For many ilnesses the treatment offered by a parent will be no different to treatments offered in the past. Simple but effective things like resting, having a hot or cold drink, some herbal remedies etc have been around for as long as we have recorded these things. Some beliefs have also continued to stay the same. Religion has always had an influence on medicine; there have always been superstitions; some people have always been frightened of new treatments and technologies. Similarly, ‘common sense’ has always had a role in medicine. For example the idea of isolating people with disease to prevent it spreading is nothing new.
Why have these things stayed the same?
One of the main reasons why something stays the same is the simple fact that it works! Other reasons are beliefs haven’t changed – people have always believed in spirits and gods, for example.
Why have some things changed over time?
New discoveries and technologies can lead to change. The invention of a new medical technique which is proven to work will, over time, lead to a change in the way that things are done. Attitudes can also change. This is often because the need for something to change becomes aparent. An example of this is the change in attitude of governments towards Public Health. As society changed, so did the attitude of those in power.
What might an examiner ask me about continuity and change?
All sorts! You could be asked to compare and contrast treatments in two different periods of time, in order to gauge the amount of change in that period. For example:
Comparing surgical techniques in 1800 with those in 1900 or the modern world.
Comparing methods of dealing with the Black Death with the way that people tried to deal with the Great Plague.
Comparing the treatments available in 1900 with those available today.
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