Key Dates/Events

Question 1

What is the common name for nitrous oxide?

Answer 1

Laughing gas

Nitrous oxide is often referred to as laughing gas due to its euphoric effects.

Question 2

Who discovered nitrous oxide?

Answer 2

Davy

Sir Humphry Davy was a chemist who conducted early experiments with nitrous oxide.

Question 3

In what year was nitrous oxide discovered?

Answer 3

1795

This was the year when nitrous oxide was first isolated and recognized.

Question 4

Who was the surgeon that amputated a leg while anaesthetising a patient with ether?

Answer 4

Robert Liston

Robert Liston was known for his rapid surgical techniques and was one of the first to use ether as an anaesthetic.

Question 5

In what year did Robert Liston perform the leg amputation using ether?

Answer 5

1846

This marked a significant advancement in surgical practices with the use of anaesthesia.

Question 6

What did Anna Greerer die of in 1848?

Answer 6

Chloroform overdose

Her death highlighted the dangers associated with the use of chloroform as an anaesthetic.

Question 7

Which British monarch used chloroform during childbirth and spoke favourably of it?

Answer 7

Queen Victoria

Her endorsement of chloroform helped to popularize its use in obstetrics.

Question 8

In what year did Queen Victoria use chloroform for childbirth?

Answer 8

1853

This event played a crucial role in changing public perception of chloroform.

Question 9

Who was the first to use ether to anaesthetise a patient for tooth extraction?

Answer 9

William E. Clarke

His use of ether in 1842 marked an important moment in dental surgery.

Question 10

What year did James Simpson discover chloroform?

Answer 10

1847

Simpson’s discovery significantly impacted anaesthesia practices.

Question 11

What impact did antiseptic surgery have in the short-term?

Answer 11

Allowed for more complex surgeries

The introduction of antiseptics made it possible to perform surgeries that were previously deemed too risky.

Question 12

What long-term effect did antiseptic surgery have?

Answer 12

Made surgery safer

The germ theory introduced by Joseph Lister transformed surgical practices and reduced infection rates.

Question 13

Who discovered carbolic acid?

Answer 13

Joseph Lister

Lister’s work with carbolic acid laid the foundation for modern antiseptic practices.

Question 14

In what year was carbolic acid discovered?

Answer 14

1865

This discovery was pivotal in the advancement of surgical hygiene.

Question 15

True or False: The introduction of antiseptics changed surgical practices significantly without any resistance.

Answer 15

False

There was considerable resistance from medical professionals to adopt new antiseptics initially.

Question 16

Fill in the blank: The use of _______ by Joseph Lister made surgery safer.

Answer 16

carbolic acid

Carbolic acid was one of the first antiseptics used in surgery.

Question 17

What significant discovery did Pasteur publish in 1860 and what long term effect did it have?

Answer 17

Results of experiments leading to the discovery of germ theory
Widespread production of vaccines

Pasteur proved that spontaneous generation was incorrect and that germs in the air were responsible for decay.

Question 18

What was proven wrong by Pasteur’s experiments?

Answer 18

Spontaneous generation

Pasteur demonstrated that decay was caused by microorganisms in the air.

Question 19

What role do germs play according to Pasteur’s findings?

Answer 19

Germs cause decay and can cause disease

This was a pivotal moment in understanding infectious diseases.

Question 20

Which disease-causing microorganism did Koch discover? & when did he discover them

Answer 20

Bacteria that caused tuberculosis
1882

Koch’s work was foundational in the field of microbiology and infectious diseases.

Question 21

What methods did Koch publish for identifying disease-causing microbes?

Answer 21

Microbes are always present in disease, can be reproduced in pure culture, and disease reproduced in test animals

This method allowed scientists to isolate and study pathogens.

Question 22

What did the French Academy of Science challenge scientists to prove?

Answer 22

To prove or disprove the theory of spontaneous generation

This challenge led to significant advancements in microbiology.

Question 23

What did Koch discover about cholera? & when

Answer 23

Cholera was spread in water supplies
1883-1884
## Footnote

Koch found cholera bacteria in drinking water in India, highlighting the importance of clean water.

Question 24

When did Pasteur publish his germ theory of infection?

Answer 24

1878

This publication was crucial in advancing the understanding of infectious diseases.

Question 25

Who discovered the use of carbolic acid in treating infected wounds?

Answer 25

Joseph Lister

Lister’s work laid the foundation for antiseptic surgery.

Question 26

What theory did Joseph Lister use to study infected wounds?

Answer 26

Pasteur’s germ theory

This theory proposed that microbes in the air caused spoilage and infections.

Question 27

What did Lister theorize about the cause of wine and vinegar spoilage?

Answer 27

Microbes in air caused spoilage

This was a key application of germ theory.

Question 28

In what year did Lister help treat a broken leg using carbolic acid?

Answer 28

1865

His methods led to clean healing of the wound.

Question 29

Where did Lister publish his findings on carbolic acid?

Answer 29

The Lancet medical journal

He detailed various cases of its application.

Question 30

What was the primary effect of carbolic acid in Lister’s treatments?

Answer 30

Killed bacteria and prevented infection

This significantly reduced the incidence of disease.

Question 31

True or False: Some believed childhood should be painful and opposed the use of chloroform.

Answer 31

True

This reflects the medical attitudes of the time.

Question 32

What was a concern regarding the dosage of chloroform?

Answer 32

Patient could die

Incorrect dosages raised serious safety issues.

Question 33

What misconception about disease prevention did Lister face?

Answer 33

Germ theory was not widely believed

Spontaneous generation was still a prevalent belief.

Question 34

What was one criticism of carbolic acid according to Lister’s opponents?

Answer 34

It dried out skin and left an odd smell

Critics questioned its overall benefit for patients.

Question 35

What did lister believe about microbes?

Answer 35

There was only one type of

Question 36

James Simpson believed there must be a better anaesthetic than laughing gas or ether, what did he discover as a replacement?

Answer 36

Chloroform, inhaled vapour and immediately passed out

Question 37

With new anaesthetics, surgeries were more complicated. Give some disadvantages of this

Answer 37

Infections deeper within body, more blood loss

Question 38

When was the the black period of surgery?

Answer 38

1850s-1870s

Question 39

What is spontaneous generation?

Answer 39

The theory of spontaneous generation was that decaying matter, things that had started to rot, created microbes.

Question 40

What is germ theory?

Answer 40

Pasteur’s germ theory proved that bacteria were the cause of disease, microorganisms infecting the body.

Question 41

What were hospitals like at the start of the 1700s?

Answer 41

Unsanitary with more people than before, more actual treatments, nurses doctors surgeons, didn’t wash hands or change clothes, sore are ward for infected, doctors offer free services to train, didn’t turn away patients as much

Question 42

What did Florence nightingale change?

Answer 42

Clean bedding and meals provided, clean/sweep floors, 40—-2% fatality rate, improved ventilation, separate isolation wards, nursing school, focus on sanitation, antiseptics, funding from gov