20th Century Flashcards
How were vaccines further developed?
A huge rivalry of who could create the most vaccinations lead to a huge leap in medical knowledge. Vaccinations were developed for killers such as tetanus, whooping cough, polio, and measles which led to a decrease in child mortality.
How were diseases treated differently from 1900 to present day?
The aim was prevention rather than cure. New vaccines were created, the government’s role in public health grew, antibiotics were created, and pharmacies were growing rapidly.
People understood a lot more about germs and diseases than before. For example, Jenner had found that vaccination could work, Pasteur had shown how. Thanks to germ theory, research was more accurate in tackling diseases.
What impact did magic bullets have on medical treatments?
Scientists were inspired by Koch and Pasteur so they worked on developing cures for major diseases. The government’s funding led to discoveries of the first chemical cures rather than herbal ones.
Who was Paul Ehrlich and what did he do?
- Developer of the first magic bullet: ‘Salvarsan 606’ in 1909
- He combined dye with various chemicals to target only disease-causing microbes
Who was Domagk and what did he do?
- Developer of the second magic bullet: ‘Prontosil’ in 1932
- This attacked microbes which caused blood-poisoning
- He was forced to test his creation on his dying daughter, luckily it worked
- Sulphonamide, the active ingredient, was later used to cure pneumonia, scarlet fever, and meningitis
How was penicillin discovered and developed?
- 1928: Alexander Fleming noticed some mould in a petri dish was killing bacteria, so he decided to take note of it and later publish his ideas in 1929
- 1930s: Fleming couldn’t get funding to develop his theory further for a while
- 1939: Florey and Chain picked up Fleming’s research and as the 2nd war broke out, the government funded them to develop penicillin for use on humans
- 1941: They had enough to test on a human. The seriously ill patient got slightly better, until they ran out of penicillin to further the treatment
- 1942: American government donated $80 million to drug companies. Penicillin was heavily used by allied troops after D-day
- 1945: After the war, penicillin was mass produced for the civilian market
What was the impact of the discovery of DNA?
The discovery of DNA helped doctors distinguish between diseases caused by external factors as well as genetics.
Who were Crick and Watson, and what did they do?
Physicist Crick and Chemist Watson worked together in Cambridge university and were famous for identifying the structure of human DNA.
- They built on the idea that characteristics were passed down by generation
- It became widely accepted that each cell in the body contained DNA, which contained genetic information about that person
- They improved technology, including x-Rays and electron microscopes, allowing scientists to carry out crystallography
- Rosalind Franklin took some detailed photos of DNA, and in 1953, Crick and Watson correctly identified the structure of DNA in these
What was the impact of DNA on medicine?
- The Human Genome Project 1986: Teams of scientists in 18 different countries took 15 years to map the entire structure of DNA. By the end, every gene in the body had been identified. This made identifying hereditary diseases easier.
- Genetic screening: Testing people who may carry a genetic disease but aren’t affected by it, such as cystic fibrosis. Also possible to test unborn babies for Down’s syndrome. Raises ethical questions but allowed people to be prepared and informed.
- Gene therapy: Normal genes from a donor can be taken and put into the DNA of someone suffering from a hereditary disease which could prevent illness. Another approach is the use of ‘stem cells’ taken from human embryos which could be used to reverse blindness and paralysis. Again, ethical questions surround this work.
What was the purpose of the 1911 National Insurance Act?
Employers, employees, and the government paid into a sickness fund which could be accessed by people who needed to pay for medical care. This was a step forward, but only helped the employed, whereas the unemployed were still in need of support.
How did the Second World War change attitudes towards healthcare?
- During the war, many were offered free health care to keep them healthy for the war effort. This increased people’s sense of entitlement.
- Middle class families were still shocked at the condition of evacuee patients. This encouraged a feeling that medical treatment should be available to everyone and not just the rich.
What was the 1942 Beveridge Report?
Sir Beveridge wrote a report on how to improve people’s lives. It included:
- NHS, paid by national insurance contributions and free to everyone. Doctors and nurses would be employed by the government instead of charging the sick.
- Everyone would pay these contributions out of their wages, which would also help benefits such as sick-pay, pensions, and unemployment benefits whether they were working or not.
Who was Aneurin Bevan and what did he do?
Bevan was a Minister for Health and made speeches in favour of the NHS. He also compromised with doctors by allowing them to remain private if they so wished.
What kind of resistance was there against the idea of the NHS?
- Doctors were unhappy about losing private, fee-paying patients
- Local authorities were unhappy about losing control of their hospitals
- Some thought the poor should help themselves instead of relying on the government
How has the provision of medical treatments for patients changed?
- To begin with, all costs regarding medical care was provided by the NHS. However, when costs began to soar, charges for things such as glasses, dentistry, and prescriptions were introduced.
- Today, patients benefit significantly from the NHS, from receiving cutting edge plastic surgery to acupuncture and unfortunately, this costs the government more and more every year. Funding is now a major problem that needs solving.
