Changes In Medicine 1848-1948 Flashcards
1
Q
Lack of Understanding of Causes of Diseases
A
- in 1848, idea of 4 humours were widely accepted (yellow bile, black bile, blood, phlegm)
- limited understanding of the body, as doctors were unable to dissect humans for legal + religious reasons
- miasma theory - bad smells spread disease
- spontaneous generation - rotting material causes disease
2
Q
Florence Nightingale at Scutari
A
- born into wealthy middle class background
- went to a hospital in Scutari during the Crimean war
- implemented many sanitation measures, e.g. cleaning all surfaces, increasing bed spacing
- her actions did not reduce the death rate, the removal of the cesspit underneath the hospital did
- invented the rose diagram
3
Q
Problems in Surgery
A
- Pain - no concrete solution to prevent patient from experiencing pain during operation, caused surgeries to occur kicking and screaming, were often carried out in a rush
- Blood Loss - tourniquet would be used in order to reduce the flow of blood in an artery before amputation, surgeries would be carried out in a rush
- Infection - Despite successful surgeries, many patients would die after wards due to infection of a wound during surgery, result of poor understanding infection and hygiene.
4
Q
Impact of Simpson and Chloroform
A
- Chloroform discovered to be a useful anaesthetic by James Simpson in 1847
- used in 1847 for childbirth, used by queen Victoria for childbirth in 1853
- by using chloroform, surgeons were more confident to attempt longer and more difficult surgeries, led to black period in surgery
- John Snow invented chloroform inhaler in 1848, allowed accurate dosing of chloroform
5
Q
Work of Chadwick
A
- wrote a report stating that taxes should be used to improve housing and living conditions for the poor, instead of supporting them in a workhouse (The Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population, 1842)
- recommendations included providing of clean water. And removing rubbish from sewage
- his work led to the passing of the 1848 public health act
- was a difficult person, often arrogant and aggressive, found it difficult to get his ideas accepted
6
Q
1848 Public Health Act
A
- passed due to recent cholera outbreaks and work of Edwin Chadwick
- limited impact, policies were opt-in, and measures were temporary
- set up general board of health, allowed towns to set up local boards also (some took no action)
7
Q
Cholera and John Snow
A
- John Snow suggested Cholera was spread by polluted water in 1849
- conducted research to prove theory in 1854, in an outbreak in Soho, London
- worked with Reverend Henry Whitehead to determine the source of the outbreak to be the broad street pump, which was contaminated by a nearby cesspool
- brewery workers were not contaminated as they drank mostly beer
8
Q
Work of Pasteur
A
- asked to investigate why beer turned sour in 1854, suggested that microorganisms affected the beer
- disproved spontaneous generation with germ theory (1861), microorganisms spread disease, and can be killed by heat
- took many years to be widely accepted, and many more to be linked to medicine
- published germ theory’s application to medicine in 1878
- impact on surgery and infection
9
Q
Lister and Antiseptics
A
- discovered carbolic acid killed microorganisms - developed carbolic acid spray to be used in surgeries to prevent infection during surgeries
- used carbolic acid to clean equipment, wounds and bandages in all his operations, became known as antiseptics, greatly reduced death rate from infection
- carbolic acid would cause the skin of doctors hands to become cracked and sore
- Lister began implementing antiseptics in 1867
10
Q
Joseph Bazalgette
A
- work of John Snow and 1858 great stink convinced government that the London sewer system needed to be improved
- Appointed Joseph Bazalgette as chief engineer
-very expensive (£6.5 million) however worthwhile, finished in 1875
11
Q
1875 Public Health Act
A
- made local authorities responsible for supplying clean water
- dealing with sewage in a non-polluting way
- significant because it showed changing attitudes in the government’s laissez-faire approach
- shows increased role of govt. in public health
12
Q
Nightingale - Improvement in Hospitals and Nursing
A
- regarded as an expert in nursing after returning to Britain in 1856
- published ‘Notes on Nursing’ and ‘Notes on Hospitals’ in 1859
- ideas made hospitals more hygienic, reducing infection
13
Q
Elizabeth Garrett - Progress of Women in Medicine
A
- Joined Society of Apothecaries in 1865
- Opened St. Mary’s Dispensary in London to provide medical treatment for women with the help of her father
- Became member of the BMA (British Medical Association) in 1873
- inspired other women to become doctors, e.g. Sophia Jex-Blake
14
Q
Koch and Bacteriology
A
- identified the microorganisms responsible for different diseases
- Anthrax 1875, Tuberculosis 1882, Cholera 1883
15
Q
Aseptic Surgery
A
- different from antiseptic (fighting infections)
- preventative surgery, operations were carried out in entirely clean operating theatres to minimise risk of infection, rather than treat it when it happened
-surgeons wore clean clothes, gloves, masks
