Part 4: medicine in the twentieth century Flashcards
what was significant about ww1
how did medical services adapt to this
what other changes happened from ww1 and ww2 as rewards
the first conflict where deaths from diseases were less than injury deaths over 80million died and 20 million were inured
1915 casualty clearing stations were set up close to front as possible to evacuate casualties where injuries were classed to 3 types (slightly wounded, hospital care and beyond help)
returning soldiers got land that reflected heroism, NHS was set up after ww2 during labour government also decreased class divide after ww2
Thomas splint (ww1)
Thomas splint for broken femur reduced deaths from 80% to 20% between 1914 and 16
shell shock treatment (ww1)
William rivers
80,000 men had shell shock between 1914-18
306 brit and commonwealth soldiers were executed as they thought it was cowardice
later in war shell shock was accepted and treated at hospital (Craiglockart in Edingburgh)
William rivers developed talking cure to help come to terms and occupational therapy and sport
skin grafts (WW1)
harold gillies developed new techniques
1917 persuaded army to set up special hospital for facial repairs
over 5000 treated
regarded as pioneer of plastic surgery and knighted after war
x-rays (ww1)
found by accident in 1895 by William roentgen
used as a quick diagnostic tool
use spread around the world
in 1918 George eastman introduced x ray film
who discovered blood transfusions and what came after
Blood Transfusions (ww1)
after ww1
prep for ww2
1901 Karl Landsteiner discovered different blood groups and that they could be matched
anti coagulant discovered to keep blood for 28 days
October 1915 blood banks set up for casualties, 1817 blood was stockpiled by British army
1921 Red Cross set up voluntary donor scheme
in 1938 govt set up army blood supply dept in Bristol
was supplied by 700000 blood donors during war
in 1940 was discovered how to make plasma in dehydrated blood for easier transport and store
sir achibald mcindoe (ww2)
famous surgeon during ww2
worked on burns (treated pilots)
improved skin grafting technique
sir Harold Riley (ww2)
improved blood transfusions
treated allies airmen
helped to develop cataract surgery
preventative measures during ww2
mepacrine-ant malaria tablet
rations- carefully balanced, ensure healthy diet
gas masks- defence for chemicals]
deep shelters- bombing
korean war
1950-53 mobile army surgical units set up by usa, reduced treatment time
changes in surgery in 20th century
1952- kidney transplant 1961 pacemaker 1967 heart transplant (patient lived 18 days) 1972 hip replacements 1978 first IVF baby
non invasive surgery changes
death rates
diagnosis improvements
using radiation or using cameras so body wasn’t cut open
key hole surgery
laser treatment (eyes and cancer) less healing time
mortality rates were monitored and league tables for drs and surgeons were set up
CAT, MRI and endoscopes were developed
DNA discovery
in 1953
human genome products and DNA discovery helped medical professions understand bodies
who was Alexander Flemming
how did he discover it
discovered penicillin, saw antiseptics couldn’t prevent infection in ww1
in 1928 was growing staphylococci in a Petri dish, then went on holiday when he came back he noticed mould (penicillin) had grown on Petri dish and staph around it was killed off, called it an antibiotic
in 1929 he published results but couldn’t get any funding
what did Florey and Chain do
how did they experiment
how did WW2 help
after war
in 1937 read flemmings article and managed to produce enough of the drug
in 1940 tested on mice then in 1941 tested on a policeman who was badly infected, he lived for 5 days until the penicillin ran out, proved it was effective
provided incentive to produce drug in 1942 American govt gives drug companies $80 million to fund mass production was used for first time in 1943 to treat troops in North Africa
1/6th of all casualties saved by penicillin in ww2
was used to treat many illnesses: bronchitis, impetigo, pneumonia, syphilis, meningitis and many wounds
