Medicine in c18th - c19th Britain Flashcards
What was believed about the causes of disease and illness at the start of c18?
People still believed in 4 humours and miasma but they were declining in popularity.
Due to the microscope becoming more powerful, scientists began to develop the theory of spontaneous generation in the early c18th.
What was the theory of spontaneous generation?
Microbes were the product of decay.
How did Louis Pasteur improve the understanding of the causes of disease?
Pioneered “Germ Theory” - the idea that disease is caused by tiny organisms he called germs.
Why was Pasteur’s discovery opposed?
Unable to identify specific germs.
Since scientists could see microbes in the gut of healthy people many were sceptical.
What was the long term impact of pasteurs discovery?
Led to targeted vaccinations, the introduction of antiseptic and aseptic surgery and more effective medicines.
How did Robert Koch improve the understanding of disease?
He invented a way to stain bacteria so it was easier to see it under the microscope.
Identified the bacteria that cause anthrax, tuberculosis and cholera.
Inspired other scientists to look for the microbes that caused diseases.
How did the GB government respond to the idea of germ theory?
They rejected it and continued to believe in miasma.
What was the impact of Koch’s discovery?
- It took time for cures and vaccines to be developed.
+ Led to targeted vaccinations and more effective medicines.
What happened in Calcutta with Koch?
Koch went to Calcutta to prove that cholera was caused by microbes in the drinking water - which they ignored and they continued to believe in miasma.
How did Florence Nightingale improve the standard of hospitals in Crimea?
What happened to the mortality rates?
Radically changed the hospitals, keeping them clean and orderly. Dramatically cut the mortality rates from 40% to just 2%.
How did Lister improve surgery?
Discovered using carbolic acid to spray over the patient and operating theatre to keep infection away.
When did Lister discover carbolic acid?
1867
What type of machine did Lister develop?
What was the reduction in mortality rates?
In 1871, he developed a machine that sprayed carbolic acid over everything and managed to reduce the mortality rate in his operations from 46% - 15%
What was the impact of Lister’s discovery?
+ Reduced mortality rates in hospitals that used his techniques.
- Although it did take time to be accepted as the medical profession took time to understand Germ Theory.
How did Simpson improve surgery?
He discovered chloroform as an anaesthetic.
How was small pox treated before Jenner’s vaccination?
Inoculation. Involves a small dose of small pox to make a person immune to the disease.
What were the downsides of inoculation?
If the dose was too large a person could develop full blown smallpox. Poor people could not afford it (too expensive).
Why were vaccinations better than inoculation?
Vaccination was made compulsory in 1852, meaning people who could not afford inoculations could get vaccinated for free.
Far less dangerous.
What did Parliament give Jenner and when?
In 1802, gave Jenner a grant of £10,000 to expand the number of vaccine clinics.
Who was upset with the new vaccination?
- Inoculation doctors
- People who thought it was wrong to inject a human with an animal disease
- The Church
- Anti-compulsory vaccination league
