A Revolution In Medicine Flashcards
What were some pain deadening substances before 1800 but why were they not great
Opium,hashish and mandrake however it was hard to judge an effective dose
What was pain a problem
It rushed surgeons and many people died from pain as they could not handle it
What was nitrous oxide and when was it used
Nitrous oxide was an anaesthetic Humphrey davy published an account in 1800 describing its effect as painless but caused hysterical laughter, however not used until 1844 when American dentist Horace wells used it to extract a tooth
What was ether and what were some drawbacks
It was an anaesthetic however it was difficult to inhale and caused vomiting
How was ether found?
In 1842 ether was first used when American dentist William Clarke used it for tooth extraction and later that year dr Crawford long used it to remove a neck growth
What was chloroform
A safe and effective anaesthetic founded by dr James Simpson in 1847
What were some oppositions to anaesthetics
Surgeons were used to operating quickly and on a conscious patient
In the early days of chloroform’s use many people died due to the idea that different sized people needed different sized doses, in 1848 Hannah greener died from an overdose on an operation to remove her toenail
Some army surgeons believed soldiers should dutifully put up with the pain
There were objections in childbirth as it was thought to be gods will
How did the religious objection overcome?
In 1853 when queen Victoria used it during childbirth which made it acceptable and fashionable
How did scientists think microbes spread before Louis Pasteur?
By spontaneous generation of chemicals
What were contagionists
People who believed infection was spread by contact and could be controlled by quarantine.
What were anti contagionists?
People who believed infection was caused by the environment, doctors like James Simpson wanted to hospitals relocated or rebuilt as he thought the germs were in the walls or the atmosphere (miasma)
Who was Joseph lister?
Lister was a professor of surgery in Glasgow and was shown pasteurs theory by Thomas Anderson a professor of chemistry.
What was listers involvement in the development of medicine?
He used carbolic acid on gloves,instruments and bandages to disinfect them.
What did lister do that was different at the time?
In august 1865he fixed the fractured leg of a boy called Jamie greenness, Jamie had an open wound so was most likely infected and would’ve had to been amputated however lister wrapped his leg in bandages which had been soaked in carbolic acid and after 6 weeks Jamie walked out the hospital
What did lister do to publicise his knowledge?
In 1867 lister published the results of 11 cases of compound fracture and publicised pasteurs germ theory. Lister said that microbes in the air caused infection not spontaneous generation
