c1900-present: Approaches of prevention and treatment

Question 1

Treatment - Magic bullets

Answer 1

A chemical cure that attacks the microbes in the body causing disease, while leaving the body unharmed.
Arsenic 606 cured syphilis.
Prontosil cured blood poisoning.

Question 2

Treatment - Antibiotics

Answer 2

An antibiotic limits the growth or destroys bacteria.

Penicillin was the first true antibiotic, invented by Fleming.

Question 3

Impact of science and technology

Answer 3

Due to better understanding of causes, scientists know to look for a MICROBE, TUMOUR or an unusual GENE, so that medicine specific to the disease can be administered.
Led to better TESTING and TRIALLING of drugs.
MASS PRODUCTION of pills and the development of capsules has made drug intake easier.

Question 4

Medical care - NHS

Answer 4

Made healthcare free to the public, improving public health.
Although access had improved, provision had not improved, since post-war Britain could not afford to spend money on healthcare.
Access to high-tech medical instruments fixed the three problems of surgery - pain, infection and blood loss, improving treatment. E.g. laparoscopy (keyhole) surgery , x-rays.

Question 5

Change in care and treatment

Answer 5

Following Sydenham’s teachings became very effective in fighting against infectious diseases.
But, new diseases (so new vaccines need to be made) and evolving microbes pose new threats, meaning herbal remedies, etc. need to be used again.
The introduction of NHS meant that hospitals were now only meant for treatment of disease, unlike in older centuries.

Question 6

Prevention of disease

Answer 6

After the government realised that they had a lot of impact on people’s health, they dropped their laissez-faire attitude.
Launched many vaccination campaigns by making vaccines for diphtheria, rubella, tetanus mandatory.
The Clean Air Acts reduced car emissions in some places; the Health Act made smoking in public places illegal.