Question

What has changed over time in the way people view disease? What has stayed the same?

Answer 1

I don't know exactly which timescale you are pointing at, but:

in the course of time, science took an increasingly molecular look at diseases. where until 1928 (discovery of penicillin), diseases were handled through natural medicines and herbs, in the last 80 years (!) we learned how to trace down evidence of certain diseases in the body. we can now look for specific molecular structures that will fight certain diseases. the methods have improved, there is hardly any truly mysterious disease left in the world. and with molecular medicine, we can even personalize therapies for certain diseases now.
that's what's changed. I remind you, the fast improvements happened in th last 80 years! got a really old great-grandpa? ask him if you don't believe me :)

the harder question for me to answer, is, what has stayed the same? and well. I would say, the thing thatt stayed the same is the process of finding a cure. since the ancient times, science (be it done by shamans ^^) work along the trail-and-error-recipe. you try an herb onto a wound, it doesn't help, you try the next. this, in the big picture, hasn't changed. you have to try out many many substances before finding an effective one if you want to cure a previously not good enough treatable disease. that's what stays the same and I can't see changing that in the near future.
also, there will always be guys that think you can cure diseases better with herbs than with modern medicine. =)

Answer 2

Thank you!

Answer 3

People used to think (like during Middle ages) disease was a punishment from God. This is no longer as widespread of a belief.

Answer 4

nice Ques emily.polhemus i rely dunno dis and gud ans Schleifspur :)) got a new knwledge