RYDA Newsletter 03/2026

What did Renaissance doctors know about anatomy?

Much of what Renaissance doctors knew about the workings of the human body came from Galen, who had read the works of the ancient Greeks, such as Hippocrates, and had learned from this.

He was forbidden to dissect human bodies by the Church since it was believed that the body was a vessel for the human soul.

Instead, Galen learned about anatomy by dissecting animals similar to humans such as apes. He updated and added to the medical knowledge of the ancient Greek doctors and he documented what he discovered.

(multi site internet picture)

Galen’s teachings became standard medical practice during the whole of the Middle Ages. They were only challenged and improved upon when a new generation of Renaissance doctors were allowed to dissect human bodies.

By the mid 1500s, the dissection of human bodies had been allowed in very limited circumstances. This directly led to advancements in the study of anatomy.

In 1543, Andreas Vesalius published The Fabric of the Human Body in which he presented high quality and accurate anatomical illustrations of the human body.

The book built on the work of Galen and corrected many of his misunderstandings.

An English doctor called William Harvey ended Galen’s influence over anatomy. Harvey had been the doctor of both King James VI of Scotland and I of England and Charles I.

Through his experiments, Harvey was able to prove that the heart was a pump that moved blood around the body. Harvey dissected live, cold-blooded animals (as their hearts beat slower than mammals) to see the movement of the heart’s muscles. By attempting (and failing) to pump liquid through veins, Harvey was able to prove that blood was pumped along a one way system around the body.

Many advancements in surgery were discovered on battlefields by barber surgeons through trial and error. During this period, when a patient had a limb surgically removed, arteries and open wounds were sealed by burning them. (cauterisation). It wasextremely painful and traumatic for the patient.

(diagram from “the blood Project”)

Ambroise Paré was a French barber surgeon who used catguts as ligatures to tie off the arteries during amputations rather than cauterising them.

Whilst this was certainly less painful, it did not stop large numbers of Paré's patients dying after surgery.

Very little was known about germs and the surgeons' dirty hands and equipment often caused infections in the wounds being treated. It was these infections rather than the original wounds that killed many of the patients.

Versalius’s work inspired doctors across Europe, encouraging them to perform their own dissections and anatomical procedures for themselves.

Before the Renaissance, many people (influenced by Galen) believed that new blood was produced in the liver and replaced blood that had been burned up in the body. They also believed that veins carried blood and air round the body and that blood was passed from one side of the heart to the other through invisible holes.

(picture from Wikipedia)

Thomas Sydenham is often referred to as ‘The English Hippocrates’ (due to his practice of observing his patients) and a pioneer in diagnostics. He believed that each disease was different and that in order to correctly cure the disease, it must first be diagnosed correctly.

This may sound like common sense to us, but it was revolutionary at the time!

Sydenham thought it was important to visit the patient, taking a full patient history and making observations. He argued that this was the only way to ensure that the correct diagnosis was made.

Instead of trying to cure imbalances in the human body, through treatments like blood letting, Sydenham often worked to treat symptoms, providing the body a chance to recover on its own:

He used cooling treatment on patients with smallpox and fevers
He used laudanum as a painkiller and treatment for fever
He treated malaria with cinchona bark. The bark contains quinine, a chemical compound that can prevent the parasite that causes malaria from reproducing.

Through his careful observations, Sydenham was able to collate a number of detailed descriptions of illnesses, including the first description of scarlet fever.

As well as scientific discoveries, the Renaissance brought about new methods of training new doctors.

Alongside being taught the works of Vesalius and Harvey, students in Edinburgh and London were expected to learn ‘on the job’ on the wards of the hospitals. Medical students and doctors were also encouraged to dissect bodies to further their own knowledge and were able to use new equipment such as microscopes and thermometers to develop theories.

Despite the Renaissance period bringing many ground-breaking discoveries, not all of these were immediately accepted.

People like Harvey & Sydenham made advances in treating illness but many doctors fought against change and held onto Galen’s theories. It took 50 years for Harvey’s theories regarding the flow of blood to become more accepted than Galen’s, by which point Harvey had died.
New medical discoveries were seen to be correct but doctors lacked the knowledge to understand why they were correct.
Doctors and scientists may have adopted new methods but they were not always able to explain why these methods worked.
Harvey had proven that blood transfusions were possible but in practice many blood transfusions failed because people did not know about different blood groups.
Sydenham improved understanding of symptoms and types of disease but he refused to investigate the causes of disease and illness use microscopy or other new techniques…
New equipment, like the microscope, was used to develop knowledge but these instruments needed further refinement in order to contribute to future advancements in medicine.
Using a microscope, Robert Hook was able to identify microorganisms for the first time but the link between microorganisms and disease would not be made until the 1850s.

Despite these limitations, the Renaissance provided the opportunity to break free from outdated theories and inspired many of the advancements in medicine that we take for granted today.

(BBC Bitesize)

We are commissioning independent surveys to confirm whether AkzoNobel’s Remediation Work has been effective and to provide transparent, publicly accessible evidence for the community.

AkzoNobel declined to contribute financially, as they are only funding monitoring required under their MMO licence. Our work focuses solely on the remediation and will be submitted for peer-reviewed publication.

Leading scientists from the MBA, PML, UoP and UoS are contributing £53,500 of in-kind expertise. Professor Steve Hawkins and Tony Hawkins are surveying Dogwhelks and Mussels for any contamination linked to the remediation, with further checks planned at 12 and 24 months if needed. Funding is required for chemical analyses, student support, and specialist imposex survey work by Dr Simon Bray.

Dr Heidi Tillin (PML) has begun high-resolution drone surveys of the site. Her first flight was internally funded, but data processing and follow-up surveys require external support.

We need £17,500 for the initial survey work, with a possible £29,000 required for 12- and 24-month follow-ups. Independent verification now is essential to protect our marine environment and maintain public trust.

This is important for river users of all types.

We have a one time opportunity to ensure that the works have done what they promised.

Donations can be made to:

RYDA Sort code: 40-36-22 Account: 70801240 Reference: Remedial

Kind regards, RYDA Committee

Remedial works at former Paint Laboratory

Community Speedwatch

Cllr Cathie Gillespie has been liaising with Devon and Cornwall Police and our Community Speedwatch Group is now official.

Volunteers have started to complete their online training which will be followed by training of all volunteers on the use of detection devices to monitor local vehicle speeds.

The Parish Council is passionate about improving road safety and if this matters to you, and you are willing to join the pool of volunteers to take part in Speedwatch sessions, please get in touch with Cllr Gillespie or the Clerk.

Rural Affairs officers welcome new law to crack down on livestock attacks

Updates to legislation recently passed through Parliament mean owners found guilty of irresponsible dog ownership will face unlimited fines.

The updated Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 was passed on 18 December 2025, offering increased protection for sheep, cows and other farm animals when it comes into effect on 18 March 2026.

The updates to legislation mean that alpacas and llamas are now recognised as livestock, and incidents occurring on roads and public paths will now be treated as offences, in addition to incidents occurring

in fields or enclosures.

Livestock worrying is when a dog attacks, chases or causes stress to one or more farm animals. Chasing, biting, barking or stalking causes the animals to panic and, even without physical contact, they can experience severe suffering which can lead to injury, death or the abortion of unborn lambs.

Under the updated law, police officers will have wider powers to investigate and act on incidents of livestock worrying, including:

The ability to seize and detain dogs suspected of chasing, attacking or threatening livestock
Entering premises under a warrant to collect potential evidence
Take forensic samples from dogs (by collecting DNA or mouth impressions etc.)

A recent survey from the National Sheep Association found that almost 87% of sheep farmers experienced one or more dog attacks on their flock in 2024, and a report published by the National Farmers Union (NFU) estimated these incidents cost the industry almost £1.8 million.

Devon & Cornwall Police’s Livestock Lead, Rural Affairs Officer PC Jules Fry, said: “Many dog owners may not be aware of livestock worrying laws or may think their dog momentarily chasing farm animals is harmless, but these incidents can cause animals to experience extreme stress, which can lead to pregnancy loss, injuries and fatalities.

"The best way to protect both dogs and livestock is for owners to keep their dogs on a lead anywhere near livestock (or where livestock could be encountered).

"The only exception to this would be if you are chased by cattle; in which case, you should release your dog and move quickly and calmly away from the herd."

PC Julian Fry concluded, "The changes in the new bill will bring stronger powers which will allow us to thoroughly investigate incidents of livestock worrying and to take action against irresponsible owners whose dogs are proven to have caused harm to innocent animals.”

As part of their ongoing commitment to tackle livestock worrying, the Devon & Cornwall Police Rural Affairs team are holding an educational livestock worrying event for farmers living in and around Bodmin next month.

Braunton-based farmer (and star of The Sheep Show), Trevor Wayborn, is attending the event as a guest speaker. He added “Sadly, attacks on livestock happen often. Even the most friendly and well-trained dogs have a natural instinct to chase, and we know that as we’ve been victims of livestock attacks ourselves in the past.

“I’m pleased to be working with officers from the Rural Affairs team to raise awareness about livestock worrying, so that we can work together with other farmers and members of the public to reduce the number of animals attacked by dogs in Devon and Cornwall.”

For the latest rural crime prevention advice, follow the Devon & Cornwall Police Rural Affairs team on Facebook.

Planning

The Cinder Path - Newton and Noss Public Footpath 13

You will be aware of the ongoing closure of the Cinder Path following landslips in two locations along its length.

Geotechnical surveyors will be on site in early February 2026 to collect data regarding cliff stability and future options for the route.

Following recommendations from the geotechnical report, DCC will meet with members of the community whose land has been affected and other stakeholders to discuss the way forward.

The Parish Council will continue to be kept informed regarding ongoing matters relating to the path. Devon County Council

Remediation works completed

Akzo Nobel/International Paint Ltd has asked the Parish Council to share the following update.

Completion of the remediation associated with the foreshore of the former International Paint Limited site (MLA/2023/00454, licence L/2024/00330/1).

On-site works were completed on Wednesday January 7, 2026. The welfare unit was removed from Yealm Road on Friday January 9, 2026. Demobilisation of barges from the River Yealm was completed on Wednesday January 14, 2026.

For further information: newton.ferrers@akzonobel.com

Whats On?

1 March at 08:30 Seaquest Sunday Wembury Marine Centre

2^nd March Coffee & Chat at Holy Cross 10.30-12.00

3^rdMarch1^stTuesday Lunch club WIC hall new members welcome.. 12.00 prompt please £6pp 2 courses plus coffee. Allergies can be catered for. Please contact Jeanne (872442); Jane (872627) or Tracie (872612).

Annual Parish Meeting – WIC Hall Saturday 7th March 2 pm

The Annual Parish Meeting is an annual meeting where all registered electors of a parish can discuss local issues, raise concerns, and hear updates from the Parish Council regarding the activities and plans for their community.

It's an opportunity for you to have a say on matters affecting your parish and to directly communicate with your Parish Council along with learning more about local groups and organisations.

After the success of last year, we plan to invite a large number of local groups and organisations to attend to share the great work that they do. We will also have tea, coffee, and cake for you to enjoy.

8 March at 13:30 Rockpool Safari Wembury Marine Centre

10^th March WI Coffee & Chat

11^th March 10.00-12.00 Parish Council surgery in the Post office

12^thMarchWI Skittles at Westward Inn 12.00 all ladies welcome

12^thMarchDFPY Quiz Yealm yacht club 8.00pm

13^th March U3A NT Live; Hamlet WIC hall 7.00pm

14^th March Holbeton film club Juror #2 Holbeton village hall 7.00

17^th March WI monthly meeting speaker is Mary’s Meals 2.00pm

21 March at 12:00 Extreme Rockpool Safari Wembury Marine Centre

24^th March WI Craft group WIC hall 2.00pm

26^th March Thursday lunch club Noss village hall 12.15

28^th & 29^thof March - Old Photos of Newton & Noss plus Revelstoke Tea Room.

The Hall is hosting an exhibition of old photos of Newton and Noss and the surrounding area. It is being compiled by the team who produced the ‘Spirit of the Yealm’ book, so it will be a fascinating look back on our local history.

The exhibition will be in the Main Hall, and we are running the pop-up tea room in the Revelstoke Room (and garden if the weather is kind to us) so please do join us for homemade cakes, freshly brewed tea and coffee, and light snacks for lunch. Just pop-in anytime between 10.00am and 4.00pm

30th March 10am – 11am
Community beach clean National Trust
Held on the last Monday of each month to help keep Wembury safe, clean and tidy with a hot drink after to say thank you! Booking essential, see www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/wembury/events Free but donations welcome. No dogs please..
Meet at Wembury Marine Centre. PL9 0HP

Save the Date

7^th April 12.00 Tuesday lunch club NNWI community hall £6

Your WI is celebrating 100 years since the opening of the WI hall ! That is certainly something to celebrate and something that sadly few other WI’s in Devon can claim.

To mark this momentous occasion our members would like to invite you to join them for tea and cake and to view a display of the work and activities enjoyed by our members over the years. Come along anytime between 2 and 5 o’clock on the afternoon of Tuesday 14th April to view the display and join us for tea and conversation with our members. Hope to see you all then!

Freepik image

21^st April WI Yealm Group Meeting at Down Thomas Village Hall 7pm

23^rd April Lunch Club Noss Village Hall 12.15

24^th April WI Lunch St Elizabeth House 12.00 pre booked only

30^th April Newton & Noss WI community hall AGM

9^th May Mewstone Treasure Hunt & Beach Barbecue

Beach BBQ - all welcome, you do not need to have taken part in the Treasure Hunt to join us for BBQ.
Beach Bar - all welcome, you do not need to have taken part in the Treasure Hunt to join us at the bar
Registration for the Treasure Hunt on the day at 1st Wembury Scout Hut between 12:00 - 13:00
The Treasure Hunt will take between 1 - 2 hours maximum to complete and uncover the code to unlock the treasure chest on Wembury Beach!
The team to complete the Treasure Hunt in the fastest time will win a prize and the Treasure Hunt Trophy!

You can now book your teams place for The Mewstone Treasure Hunt MAX 6 per team https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1980671642200...