Before the discovery of penicillin, antisepsis, and germ life with diseases was a constant friend of medieval people. From the 8th through the mid 14th centuries Europe was free from most epidemic diseases but had plenty of endemic diseases and poor health conditions related to famine and malnutrition. But centuries of thriving allowed Europe's population to grow to about 75-80 million, expanding in every direction, building densely-inhabited cities, and establishing trade routes with all parts of the known world, setting the scene for a new pattern of epidemic disease across Europe and Asia.

During that time, the medical treatment wasn't that good either. Treaments varied between the doctors then. But some of the most sick and well known was bleeding using leeches to draw "bad blood" as they called it out. Some surgeries were performed to cure patients of hernias, cataracts, for the removal of gallstones. Surgery was also very often more precarious than the actual problem. Phsycians would also use red hot pokers or use astrology for it played an important role in curing. Some options for the peasant class were poultices made from herbs folk cures. Sometimes people would even risk going to a so called "witch" to provide these remedies, although many of these unlucky people found themselves tied to a burning stake. Pewf, I wasn't born at that time. :)