Medicine Flashcards
What were the four humors believed to cause diseases?
Blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile
What was the miasma theory?
The idea that disease was carried in unpleasant smells
What was the spontaneous generation theory?
The idea that rotting material created disease
Who was Florence Nightingale and what did she do at Scutari?
A nurse who improved hospital conditions by cleaning and organizing supplies
What were the conditions like at the Scutari hospital when Nightingale arrived?
Overcrowded, infested with lice, limited supplies, and poor sanitation
What was the impact of Florence Nightingale’s work in Scutari?
Increased popularity in Britain, but death rates remained high due to poor hospital conditions
What were the main dangers in surgery during the mid-19th century?
- Pain due to lack of anesthetics
- Infection from unsterilized equipment
- Blood loss from inadequate methods
What anesthetic did Simpson discover?
Chloroform
What significant public health report did Chadwick publish in 1842?
Sanitary Conditions of Labouring Population
What was the purpose of the 1848 Public Health Act?
To set up a general board of health and improve sanitary conditions
What was John Snow’s contribution to understanding cholera?
He suggested cholera was spread by polluted water and removed the handle from a contaminated pump
What did Louis Pasteur discover about microorganisms?
They are carried in the air and cause decay, leading to the germ theory
What did Lister apply to surgery to reduce infection?
Carbolic acid as an antiseptic
What was mandated by the 1875 Public Health Act?
Local councils had to take responsibility for public health measures
What was the significance of Alexander Fleming’s discovery in 1928?
He discovered penicillin, which can kill bacteria
