Hospitals In The 1800's

Question 1

Hospitals in the 1800’s

Answer 1

1) dirty- unclean
2) poor or no supplies- no linen, straw mattresses, beds not cleaned between pt.s
3) no trained nursing staff- daylight care only, inmates from debtors prison acted as “nurses,” best care given by religious orders
4) no electricity
5) heat by fireplace only
6) one large room- no dividers
7) no sanitation
8) doctors, physicians, MDs- were trained by apprenticeship, poor understanding of need for sanitation, no hand washing or sterile technique, instruments cleaned not sterilized, no anesthesia, surgery resulted in death most of the time