Modern medicine Flashcards
Who was Harold Gillies and His Contribution to Surgery ?
Who was Harold Gillies?
- A New Zealand doctor who served as a surgeon during World War I.
- Initially worked on the front line, then set up a specialized ward at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup in London in 1917 to treat soldiers with facial injuries.
Key Contribution:
- Pioneered new skin graft techniques for reconstructing facial injuries.
- Developed the pedicle skin graft technique, where a patch of skin (with its blood supply) is moved from one part of the face to another to promote healing and successful attachment.
Impact:
- Helped many soldiers recover from disfiguring injuries, laying the foundation for modern plastic surgery and reconstructive techniques.
Who was Francis Derwent Wood and His Work with Soldiers ?
Who was Francis Derwent Wood?
- A sculptor who worked in hospitals in England during World War I.
Key Contribution:
- Designed and created lifelike facial masks for soldiers who had suffered severe facial injuries.
- The masks helped soldiers regain confidence, supported their mental health, and aided their reintegration into normal life.
Impact:
- Played a crucial role in improving the psychological well-being of soldiers, helping them feel more comfortable with their appearance and more confident in returning to civilian life.
Blood Transfusions During WWI
problem/innovation/impact ?
Problem before WWI: Blood transfusions couldn’t be stored — it had to be done person-to-person.
Innovation: Sodium citrate was added to blood during WWI to prevent clotting.
Impact: Blood could now be stored for short periods, allowing for pre-packaged blood at casualty stations and making transfusions on the battlefield much more effective.
x-rays and Marie Curie
contribution/achievement/impact ?
Marie Curie’s contribution: Helped bring X-ray technology to battlefield hospitals.
Achievements:
- Secured 200 X-ray units for French hospitals.
- Developed 20 mobile X-ray units called “petites Curies” (little Curies).
Impact: Allowed surgeons to see internal injuries, making operations safer and more accurate.
amputations and prosthetic
response/innovation/impact ?
Reason for rise in amputations: Serious injuries from explosives and trench warfare.
Response: Surgeons performed amputations to save lives.
Innovation: New prosthetic limbs developed — made of metal, lighter, and easier to use.
Impact: Improved mobility and quality of life for injured soldiers.
James Edward Hanger and Prosthetics
background/innovation/WW 1 role ?
Background: Hanger lost his leg in the American Civil War; found early prosthetics painful.
Innovation: Designed bending limbs at the knee and ankle, offering better comfort and movement.
WWI Role:
- Observed trench warfare injuries in Europe.
- His company received contracts from England and France to produce prosthetics for Allied soldiers.
Why were WWI surgical innovations significant?
Improved survival rates with:
- Stored blood for transfusions.
- Mobile X-rays for diagnosis and planning.
- Better prosthetics for amputees.
Laid the foundation for modern battlefield medicine and rehabilitative care.
Encouraged multidisciplinary collaboration between doctors, engineers, and scientists.
How did James Edward Hanger revolutionise prosthetic limbs, and what was his impact during and after World War One?
Who was James Edward Hanger?
- An American Civil War soldier who became an amputee.
- He was unhappy with his original prosthetic, which was painful and ill-fitting.
What did he invent?
- A new prosthetic limb that could bend at the knee and ankle, offering better comfort and movement.
- His design was a major improvement over existing artificial limbs.
His role during WWI:
- Traveled to Europe to study the injuries caused by trench warfare.
- Used this knowledge to improve prosthetic design for modern war injuries.
Impact:
- His company received contracts from England and France to supply prosthetic limbs to wounded soldiers.
- Helped transform prosthetics into lighter, more practical, and more lifelike limbs.
- Contributed to the long-term development of rehabilitation for amputees.
What did Charles Booth discover in his 1889 investigation, and why was it important?
- Booth was a social reformer who investigated poverty in London.
- Found that 35% of the population lived in absolute poverty.
- His work challenged the belief that poverty was due to laziness.
- Raised awareness and pressured the government to take action.
How did Seebohm Rowntree contribute to the understanding of poverty?
- Investigated poverty in York in 1900.
- Found families needed at least 21 shillings/week to avoid poverty.
- Introduced the idea of the “poverty line”.
- Showed poverty existed outside London, even among those who worked.
- Helped push the idea that poverty was a national issue, not a personal failing.
Why did political changes encourage the Liberal Party to introduce reforms?
- 1867 Reform Act gave more working-class men the vote.
- Rise of the Labour Party (won 2 seats in 1900, 29 seats in 1906).
- Liberals feared losing support to Labour.
- Reforms were a way to keep working-class voters loyal to the Liberal Party.
What did the Second Boer War reveal about public health?
- War began in 1899; many volunteers were unfit for service.
- 1 in 3 men failed health tests due to poor physical condition.
- Highlighted national health crisis, even among young men.
- Encouraged the government to improve health and fitness of the population.
Why were free school meals introduced in 1906, and what was their purpose?
- Aimed to improve children’s health and concentration.
- Offered nutritious meals to children in poverty.
- Funded by local councils.
- By 1914, over 150,000 children received a meal every day.
What was the goal of school medical inspections introduced in 1907?
- Introduced to check children’s health regularly.
- Helped identify illnesses, malnutrition, and diseases early.
- At first, inspections only identified problems – no treatment was provided.
- Eventually, schools began to offer free treatment in some areas.
Who qualified for a pension under the 1908 Old Age Pensions Act?
- People over 70 with an income under £21/year got 5 shillings/week.
- Smaller pensions were given to people with slightly higher incomes or married couples.
- Those earning over £31 and 10 shillings/year got no pension.
- It was non-contributory – people didn’t have to pay in during their lives.
What was the purpose of the Labour Exchanges Act in 1909?
- Set up centres to help unemployed people find work.
- Similar to today’s job centres.
- Helped match employers and jobseekers.
- By 1914, there were over 400 labour exchanges across Britain.
What did the National Insurance Act of 1911 do for workers?
- Set up health insurance for workers.
- Workers, employers, and the government all paid into the system.
- Provided sick pay and free medical care if workers fell ill.
- Marked a big step towards a welfare state.
Why did some people think the Liberal reforms did not go far enough?
The Labour Party argued that:
- The reforms didn’t help women enough, especially in areas like National Insurance.
- Old Age Pensions were too low to live on.
They wanted greater support for working-class people and more equality in the system.
What were Conservative criticisms of the Liberal reforms?
Some Conservatives said:
- People would become too dependent on state aid and lose motivation to work.
- It was wrong to use taxpayer money to help others.
- The reforms interfered with personal responsibility and the traditional role of government.
Who was Archibald McIndoe and what was his contribution during WWII?
- New Zealand-born surgeon, cousin of Harold Gillies
- Treated soldiers with severe facial burns and injuries
- Worked at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead
- Pioneered techniques in plastic and reconstructive surgery
- Focused on both physical healing and mental health support for patients
What was the Guinea Pig Club and why was it important?
- Formed by McIndoe’s recovering patients
- A support network for soldiers with disfigurements
- Helped members socialise, recover confidence, and adjust to civilian life
- Organised social events and gained national attention
- Even visited by Winston Churchill during the war
Who was Charles Drew and what was his contribution to blood transfusions during WWII?
- American surgeon who developed new methods to store and transport blood
- Led the “Blood for Britain” campaign at the start of WWII
- Collected blood donations from US civilians
- His techniques allowed blood to be safely transported to Britain
- Helped save lives through blood transfusions for injured soldiers and civilians
How did evacuation during World War Two contribute to social reform?
- 3 million children evacuated to the countryside to escape bombings in urban areas
- rural communities shocked by the poverty of urban evacuees
- Sparked support for social reform and greater commitment to helping families in need
- Helped lay the groundwork for the creation of the National Health Service (NHS) in 1948
How was penicillin used during World War Two?
- Penicillin was mass-produced for the first time during World War Two.
- Howard Florey and Ernst Chain made it possible to produce the first antibiotic on a large scale.
- US soldiers injured during D-Day were all given penicillin to reduce the risk of infection.
