changes in medicine c1848 - c1948 Flashcards
what were the four humours
yellow bile, black bile, phlegm and blood
what was the theory of opposites
the idea that illness was caused by too much of one humour, and eating or drinking something with the opposite of those qualities would restore balance
what was spontaneous generation
rotting material created maggots, fleas and disease
why wasn’t there a lot of research to do with microorganisms
people didn’t know the link between microorganisms and disease, and microscopes were rare and expensive.
government didn’t feel responsible for issues like public health.
doctors didn’t want to learn new methods of doing things
why were Nightingale’s parents surprised when she wanted to be a nurse
it was a low status job
how many patients were there at Scutari
10,000
where did the patients at Scutari sleep
on the floor or sharing beds
what common diseases were at Scutari
typhoid fever, cholera and diarrhoea
what were supplies like at Scutari
limited medical supplies
poor quality and limited food supplies
were the patients at Scutari clean and hygenic
they were infested with lice and fleas
what was the quality of the hospital at Scutari
infested with rats and mice
built on an underground cesspool
what did Nightingale do at Scutari to improve conditions
scrubbed everything clean washed everything opened windows new supplies improved quality of food and cleaned kitchen
when did the death rate at Scutari start decreasing
only after a government commission repaired drains and improved water quality
what are microorganisms
single celled living organisms which are too small to be seen without a microscope
what types of surgery were available c.1840
basic (cutting open a boil) or life threatening (cutting off a tumour or performing an amputation).
what did being the best surgeon mean
you were the quickest at your job
pain relief available c.1840
opium
alcohol
being knocked unconscious
tourniquet
something wrapped tightly around a limb to reduce blood loss
why was infection common in surgery patients
unhygenic conditions surgeons wore dirty clothes reused bandages and dressings surgeons didn't wash their hands many people watched the surgery
advantages of using ether
it was a pain relief
disadvantages of using ether
side effects like vomiting
irritated lungs
patients could be unconscious for days
what was new and good about chloroform
it had no side effects
who and what popularised using chloroform
Queen Victoria used it in childbirth
who was James Simpson
Professor of Medicine and Midwifery at Edinburgh University