Health 3.1 Advances in Medical Science in 19th Century Britain

Question 1

What new anaesthetics came about in the 19th century? (HE 3.1)

Answer 1

• Nitrous Oxide: Found by Humphrey Davy and first used by Horace Wells, 1844, in tooth removal.
• Ether: Used by William Clark, 1842, in tooth removal, despite the vomiting and flammability.
• Chloroform: Discovered by James Simpson, 1847.

Question 2

What were the reasons anaesthetics were opposed? Why was this overcame? (HE 3.1)

Answer 2

• Surgeons were used to awake patients.
• Army surgeons believed pain was a duty.
• People didn’t get dosages right, Hannah Greener died from this.
• Religious objections.
• Finally overcame because Queen Victoria used them in childbirth.

Question 3

Who were contagionists and anti-contagionists, who were famous examples? (HE 3.1)

Answer 3

• Contagionists believed infection was spread by contact. Such as Thomas Wells, who suggested infection was non-chemical.
• Anti-Contagionists believed infection was environmental, such as James Simpson who wanted to move hospitals for miasma.

Question 4

What was Lister’s antiseptic approach? How did he prove its use? (HE 3.1)

Answer 4

• He soaked hands, instruments, operating area and bandages with carbolic acid.
• He saved Jamie Greenless’ broken leg in 1865, who walked out of hospital in 6 weeks, without needing amputated.

Question 5

What was Lister’s conclusion and what were reactions to his work? (HE 3.1)

Answer 5

• Publicised Pasteur’s germ theory as an explanation.

- Criticised, due to the unfamiliar biological explanation, opposed by famous doctors like Charlton Bastion.

Question 6

Why did people oppose Lister’s antiseptic surgery? (HE 3.1)

Answer 6

• Doctors did not accept Pasteur’s germ theory.
• Carbolic acid dried skin and irritated the lungs.
• Lister then changed techniques, and also operated in dirty street clothes.

Question 7

Why did people change their minds about germ theory? (HE 3.1)

Answer 7

• Lionel Beale identified a microbe responsible for cattle plague in 1866.
• John Tyndall lectured on dust, disease and microbes.
• Robert Koch identified the microbes responsible for cholera and typhoid fever.

Question 8

How did doctors use Aseptic surgery? (HE 3.1)

Answer 8

• Surgeons were scrubbed, wearing gowns, new gloves, with sterilised equipment.
• This dramatically reduced infections.