changes in medicine Flashcards
What are the four humours in ancient Greek medicine?
Blood, Phlegm, Yellow bile, Black bile
The theory suggested that an imbalance among these humours affected health.
What is the theory of opposites in relation to the four humours?
The idea that to restore balance, one should consume or engage in activities with opposite qualities to the excess humour
This theory was used to explain illness and treatment.
What is the miasma theory?
Disease is caused by unpleasant smells and harmful fumes in the air
This theory linked disease to unhygienic conditions and was common before germ theory.
What was the spontaneous generation theory?
Claimed that rotting material created maggots, fleas, and disease
This reflected the limited understanding of microorganisms.
How did doctors’ knowledge of the human body affect medical progress?
Understanding was limited due to few dissections and beliefs in afterlife
This led to ethical discussions and reluctance to study human bodies.
What factors hindered medical progress historically?
- Lack of understanding
- Limited technology
- Funding issues
- Negative attitudes towards new techniques
These factors contributed to slow advancements in medicine.
Why did Florence Nightingale go to Scutari?
To work in a military hospital during the Crimean War due to high infection rates among soldiers
She was prompted by the Secretary for War, Sidney Herbert.
Describe the conditions at the Scutari hospital.
- Over 10,000 patients
- Crowded and unsanitary
- Infested with lice and fleas
- Limited medical supplies and poor food
Conditions contributed to high death rates from infections.
What actions did Florence Nightingale take to improve conditions in Scutari?
- Cleaned surfaces
- Improved air flow by opening windows
- Enhanced food quality
- Fundraised for supplies
Her efforts aimed to reduce infection and improve patient care.
What was the impact of Nightingale’s work in Scutari?
Death rates remained high until the government hired a sanitary commission in 1855
This commission led to rapid improvements in health outcomes.
What was the typical training for doctors in the mid-1840s?
Four years of training including lectures, hospital experience, and practical surgery
Training still lacked focus on hygiene and advanced surgical techniques.
What was the problem of pain in surgery before the 1840s?
Patients underwent surgery awake with only alcohol or opium for pain relief
This led to traumatic experiences during operations.
What was the purpose of a tourniquet in surgery?
To reduce blood flow during surgical procedures
This was a common practice before the understanding of sterilization.
Who was William Morton and what was his contribution to anesthesia?
A dentist who experimented with ether gas for anesthesia in 1846
His work allowed for less painful surgeries.
What was James Simpson’s contribution to anesthesia?
Discovered chloroform as a superior anesthetic in 1847
He used it successfully in childbirth and became physician to Queen Victoria.
What were some problems associated with the use of chloroform?
- Caused vomiting
- Could leave patients unconscious for long periods
- Highly flammable
These issues raised concerns about its safety in surgical settings.
What was the black period of surgery?
A time when death rates rose due to infection despite advances in anesthesia
Surgeons still lacked knowledge of hygiene.
What were the living conditions like in industrial towns during the 19th century?
- Poor quality housing
- Overcrowded
- Damp and poorly ventilated
- Shared sanitation facilities
These conditions contributed to the spread of diseases.
What were some killer diseases prevalent in Britain during the 19th century?
- Cholera
- Typhoid fever
- Typhus
Vaccination for smallpox existed but was not widely adopted.
What was Edwin Chadwick’s report about?
It highlighted the poor sanitary conditions of the working population and suggested improvements
His ideas contributed to the Public Health Act of 1848.
What was the significance of John Snow’s work during the cholera epidemic?
Mapped cases and identified a contaminated water source, demonstrating the link between water and cholera
His findings were initially met with skepticism.
Who was Louis Pasteur?
A French scientist known for breakthroughs in understanding the cause of illness
What problem was Pasteur asked to investigate in 1854?
Why vats of beer were turning sour
What theory did Pasteur disprove?
Spontaneous generation theory
