In the seventeenth century the Scarlet Fever hit England, and the cause of it was unknown to scholars, and doctors alike. Thomas Sydenham was one of the observers of the seventeenth century who documented the affects of the Scarlet Fever, as well as what he thought were appropriate treatments to combat it. Just as many other writers who came before Sydenham, there were many who did not agree with his views on the cause of the Scarlet fever do to difference in opinions on what caused illnesses. In the “Observationes Medicae”, Sydenham documented his finding in order to inform others of what he thought caused the Scarlet Fever, as well as to inform of the treatments that could be used to cure those who were affected by it.

Thomas Sydenham documented his findings of the Scarlet Fever in his book …show more content…
Although Sydenham documentation of the Scarlet Fever is not accurate with today’s medicine it is important do to several reasons. For one, his documentation of the Scarlet Fever gives us an idea of a historical perspective on how the people of the seventeenth century thought, as well as the believes that many held. The documentation also teaches us on how scholars, and doctors of the time determined what type of disease the patient had. Through the use of observation alone Sydenham was able to determine if the patient had Scarlet Fever instead of another disease. Thomas Sydenham documentation of the Scarlet Fever in his book “Observationes Medicae” is valuable because it brings a perspective on his view of what caused illness, and treatments that he, and others held in the seventeenth century, which we would not have known if it were not for his documentation, and of others of his