Key Dates/Events Flashcards
What is the common name for nitrous oxide?
Laughing gas
Nitrous oxide is often referred to as laughing gas due to its euphoric effects.
Who discovered nitrous oxide?
Davy
Sir Humphry Davy was a chemist who conducted early experiments with nitrous oxide.
In what year was nitrous oxide discovered? (Laughing gas numbed pain)
1795
This was the year when nitrous oxide was first isolated and recognized.
Who was the surgeon that amputated a leg while anaesthetising a patient with ether?
Robert Liston
Robert Liston was known for his rapid surgical techniques and was one of the first to use ether as an anaesthetic.
In what year did Robert Liston perform the leg amputation using ether?
1846
This marked a significant advancement in surgical practices with the use of anaesthesia.
What did Anna Greerer die of in 1848?
Chloroform overdose
Her death highlighted the dangers associated with the use of chloroform as an anaesthetic.
Which British monarch used chloroform during childbirth and spoke favourably of it?
Queen Victoria
Her endorsement of chloroform helped to popularize its use in obstetrics.
In what year did Queen Victoria use chloroform for childbirth?
1853
This event played a crucial role in changing public perception of chloroform.
Who was the first to use ether to anaesthetise a patient for tooth extraction?
William E. Clarke
His use of ether in 1842 marked an important moment in dental surgery.
What year did James Simpson discover chloroform?
1847
Simpson’s discovery significantly impacted anaesthesia practices.
What impact did antiseptic surgery have in the short-term?
Allowed for more complex surgeries
The introduction of antiseptics made it possible to perform surgeries that were previously deemed too risky.
What long-term effect did antiseptic surgery have?
Made surgery safer
The germ theory introduced by Joseph Lister transformed surgical practices and reduced infection rates.
Who discovered carbolic acid?
Joseph Lister
Lister’s work with carbolic acid laid the foundation for modern antiseptic practices.
In what year was carbolic acid discovered?
1865
This discovery was pivotal in the advancement of surgical hygiene.
True or False: The introduction of antiseptics changed surgical practices significantly without any resistance.
False
There was considerable resistance from medical professionals to adopt new antiseptics initially.
Fill in the blank: The use of _______ by Joseph Lister made surgery safer.
carbolic acid
Carbolic acid was one of the first antiseptics used in surgery.
What significant discovery did Pasteur publish in 1860 and what long term effect did it have?
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.
What was proven wrong by Pasteur’s experiments?
Spontaneous generation
Pasteur demonstrated that decay was caused by microorganisms in the air.
What role do germs play according to Pasteur’s findings?
Germs cause decay and can cause disease
This was a pivotal moment in understanding infectious diseases.
Which disease-causing microorganism did Koch discover? & when did he discover them
Bacteria that caused tuberculosis
1882
Koch’s work was foundational in the field of microbiology and infectious diseases.
What methods did Koch publish for identifying disease-causing microbes?
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.
What did the French Academy of Science challenge scientists to prove?
To prove or disprove the theory of spontaneous generation
This challenge led to significant advancements in microbiology.
What did Koch discover about cholera? & when
Cholera was spread in water supplies
1883-1884
## Footnote
Koch found cholera bacteria in drinking water in India, highlighting the importance of clean water.
When did Pasteur publish his germ theory of infection?
1878
This publication was crucial in advancing the understanding of infectious diseases.
Who discovered the use of carbolic acid in treating infected wounds?
Joseph Lister
Lister’s work laid the foundation for antiseptic surgery.
What theory did Joseph Lister use to study infected wounds?
Pasteur’s germ theory
This theory proposed that microbes in the air caused spoilage and infections.
What did Lister theorize about the cause of wine and vinegar spoilage?
Microbes in air caused spoilage
This was a key application of germ theory.
In what year did Lister help treat a broken leg using carbolic acid?
1865
His methods led to clean healing of the wound.
Where did Lister publish his findings on carbolic acid?
The Lancet medical journal
He detailed various cases of its application.
What was the primary effect of carbolic acid in Lister’s treatments?
Killed bacteria and prevented infection
This significantly reduced the incidence of disease.
True or False: Some believed childhood should be painful and opposed the use of chloroform.
True
This reflects the medical attitudes of the time.
What was a concern regarding the dosage of chloroform?
Patient could die
Incorrect dosages raised serious safety issues.
What misconception about disease prevention did Lister face?
Germ theory was not widely believed
Spontaneous generation was still a prevalent belief.
What was one criticism of carbolic acid according to Lister’s opponents?
It dried out skin and left an odd smell
Critics questioned its overall benefit for patients.
What did lister believe about microbes?
There was only one type of
James Simpson believed there must be a better anaesthetic than laughing gas or ether, what did he discover as a replacement?
Chloroform, inhaled vapour and immediately passed out
With new anaesthetics, surgeries were more complicated. Give some disadvantages of this
Infections deeper within body, more blood loss
When was the the black period of surgery?
1850s-1870s
What is spontaneous generation?
The theory of spontaneous generation was that decaying matter, things that had started to rot, created microbes.
What is germ theory?
Pasteur’s germ theory proved that bacteria were the cause of disease, microorganisms infecting the body.
What were hospitals like at the start of the 1700s?
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
What did Florence nightingale change?
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
What was surgery like in 1800?
Dangerous, no anaesthetic
Who was Edward Jenner?
-Doctor who discovered vaccine for smallpox
-had inoculation performed on him as a child
How and when did Edward Jenner discover the vaccine for smallpox?
Milk maids weren’t catching it, cowpox stops you getting it, cut a kids arm and put cowpox in it, later gave him smallpox in the same way but he did not catch the disease
1798
What does the word vaccine mean?
Cow in Latin
What was the impact of having vaccines for smallpox?
Increased life span, save lives, safer than inoculation
Who opposed the idea of vaccines for smallpox and why?
Church-believed animal infection used for medicine was against gods will
Inoculators-destroyed business, lost money
Royal Society-refused to publish, too much opposition, no evidence of why it works
What happened 1837-1840?
Smallpox epidemic, 35,000 people die, medical journal ‘the lancet’ blames inoculation
What happened in 1840?
Gov makes inoculation a crime and agrees to provide children with vaccines at taxpayers expense
Vaccination for smallpox made compulsory in what year?
1852
When were Public vaccinators appointed
1871
Gov begins enforcing compulsory vaccination in what year?
1872
Why were ideas of smallpox vaccines slower to spread to Britain?
Lacking incentive (no rivalries), propaganda from inoculators, no germ theory yet, no neighbours to spread info
What was a negative short term impact of the smallpox vaccine?
Smallpox and cowpox samples were mixed up, people died OR died of infection
Napoleon vaccinated his army with smallpox vaccine in what year?
1805
What happened in 1803?
Royal Jennerian society founded, 12000 vaccines in one year
What happened in 1840?
Inoculation was banned
When was smallpox officially wiped out?
1980
Who did the vaccines inspire?
Koch and Pasteur
What did the vaccines not help with?
Didn’t help the development of vaccines for other diseases because Jenner didn’t know why his idea worked
What was the incentive for Pasteur and Koch?
The franco-Prussian war (1870-71)
What did Edwin Chadwick campaign for? What did he do)
Public health act OR boards of health
Linked poor living conditions to disease and illness
Believed in miasma
Put waste in the river Thames which made cholera epidemic worse
What attitude did the government have at the time of Chadwick’s ideas?
Let them get on with it attitude
Unwilling to spend money
What did John snow create in 1854?
A spot map to show that the source of cholera was the water pump
How did snow prove that the pump was the source of cholera?
Broke the handle, everyone stopped drinking from it and stopped dying
What did snow realise that gave further evidence that cholera was not caused by miasma?
Cholera affected your gut not your lungs
When did John snow publish his book about cholera speaking through the water?
1839
Why was the public health act of 1875 so significant?
Local councils were forced to provide sewers, drainage, fresh water, public toilets etc and medical officers enforced it all, improved sanitation and reduced spread of disease
When did Pasteur publish germ theory?
1861
