Industrial Times Flashcards
Chemical Cures
People continued to rely on potentially poisonous arsenic compounds because no successful cures were yet discovered.
Spontaneous Generation
The idea was that decaying matter magically gave life to “animalcules” / microbes.
Knowledge of Germs ( Germ Theory)
- Germs everywhere
- Germs not even
- Germs cause illness/decay
- Germs can be killed with heat
Knowledge of Germs (Koch and Specific)
1882: Tuberculosis germ
1883: Cholera germ
Government
The government more concerned with what they could to do to help people prevent disease.
Anesthetics ( Before 1847)
Pain relief was very hit and miss. People relied on alcohol or knocking a patient out or a very flammable chemical called ether.
Anesthetics (After 1847)
Chloroform was used as a way to put a patient to sleep.
Antiseptics (Before 1865)
Surgery was going through its “black period”.
Anaesthetics allowed bold surgery in filthy conditions.
Antiseptics (After 1865)
Carbolic Acid (Spray) was used as away to remove bacteria from wounds. Deaths from infections went down dramatically.
Vaccinations (Before 1796)
Inoculation was the only way to prevent smallpox. Some people still got the full disease from this method.
Vaccinations (After 1796)
A safe way to prevent Smallpox was known about.
The government gradually made the vaccine compulsory.
Opposition to anaesthetics, antiseptics and vaccinations
Chloroform reduced heart rate so quickly that the young, fit and fearful would die.
Vaccination was believed, by some, to turn you into a cow.
Surgeons were more concerned with carbolic spray irritating their hands than the fact it saved lives.
People believed pain relief went against God’s plan for humanity.
1875 Public Health Act (Before this law)
Towns only had to volunteer to provide clean water and lighting. There was lots of slum housing and the poor were often forgotten.
1875 Public Health Act (After this law)
Towns were required by law to make sure that water supplies were clean that living conditions were of a basic standard.
19th Century Hospitals
Hospitals became places you would get treated, not simply rest in. Physicians/Doctors would visit everyday. Charity hospitals existed for the “deserving poor”. Rich preferred care at home.
