Quackery: Four Humors

The case in front of you marked Good and Bad Humors illustrates the essence of the predominant medical theory of disease. Early physicians recognized that blood in the body was a vital source of life. From this, Hippocrates developed his theory of the four humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. He postulated that a person needed these four vital components working in harmony for the body to be healthy. Disease was thought to be an imbalance of one or more of these humors. Therefore, treatment was aimed at restoring the humors to balance. This was done by bloodletting, vomiting, spitting, and cleaning the bowels.  

Our Museum has many examples of devices and medicines aimed at keeping these four substances in balance. There are numerous pills and potions to make one puke, have bowel movements, lose blood, or spit. The four humors theory of medicine was only replaced in the 19th century by the advent of germ theory.