The Modern World - c.1900 - Present Day Flashcards
What had Britain and the world accepted about germs by 1900?
That they existed
That they caused a great deal of diseases
What had we not discovered by the start of 1900?
- How diseases are connected to our “pathways”
* Hereditary diseases
What further things were doctors interested in regarding the cause of illnesses?
Hereditary diseases
DNA
Lifestyle - Diet & Exercise
What did Archibald Garrod theorise in 1902?
Hereditary diseases - caused by missing information in the body’s chemical pathways
Who discovered DNA in 1953?
Rosalind Franklin - photographed it
James Watson and Francis Crick - published a paper proving the understood it
What project was launched in 1990?
Humane Genome Project
What does detailed understanding of DNA allow?
Exploration of hereditary diseases
Why do doctors take an interest in lifestyle factors like diet and exercise?
They have direct links to causes of illness - cancer and diabetes
What was the first “magic bullet” discovered in 1909?
Salvarsan 606 - The first chemical cure
What was discovered about prontosil in 1932?
It cured blood poisoning - deaths fell from 20% to 4.7%
Who were the three people involved in the creation of penicillin?
Alexander Fleming
Howard Florey and Ernst Chain - took Fleming’s research further - proven penicillin could kill infections in the body - gained US support for mass production of it
What was Streptomycin able to do in 1943 that people thought could never be done?
Cured TB - an extremely powerful antibiotic
How did Fleming discover the mould that can be used to create penicillin?
He noticed that mould had developed accidentally on a set of culture dishes being used to grow the staphylococci germ. The mould had created a bacteria-free circle around itself.
What actions did Florey and Chain take to make it manufacturable?
Proved it could kill infections inside the body.
What further vaccinations have been created during the 20th century?
1909 - Salvarsan, Syphillis 1932 - Prontosil - Blood Poisoning 1938 - M&B 693 - Pneumonia 1942 - Diphtheria 1943 - Streptomycin - TB 1950 - Whooping Cough 1961 - Tetanus
When were x-rays first introduced?
1890’s
When was the first transplant carried out?
1954 - Kidney
When was kidney dialysis first introduced?
1943 - Willem Kolff
What has things like keyhole and robotic surgery allowed?
Surgeons to operate & make incisions from distance some away - less trauma & quicker healing
What have MRI scans and ultrasounds allowed?
Better diagnosing in soft tissue areas & things like gall & kidney stones
Who was David Lloyd George?
Prime Minister at start of 20C, responsible for Liberal Health reforms
What were three health reforms that the Liberal government introduced in the early 20th century?
Children - Free School Meals 1906
Pensioners - Given pension - 1908
Workers - Help to find work - 1906
Who was Nye Bevan?
Health minister - oversaw opening of the NHS - 1948
What has the NHS done for healthcare in Britain?
Made it available to all that need it
What does the government do today to try and influence and change behaviour when it comes to health?
Educate people to prevent / help avoid health problems - warnings against smoking, excessive drinking, unprotected sex, recreational drug use etc
What caused lung cancer rates to go up?
Increased amounts of smoking
What high-tech treatments have been developed to help the fight against lung cancer?
Transplants
Chemotherapy - chemicals
Radiotherapy - radiation to interrupt growth of tumours
Genetic research
What public health related decisions have the government made to try to prevent people smoking?
Banned cigarette adverts - television - 1965 - increased until
2005 - cigarette ads banned completely
2007 - smoking ban in public places - inc workspaces
increased legal buying age from 16 to 18
tax on tobacco & alcohol
2012 - illegal to display cigarettes
pictures of diseased lungs on packets
2015 - illegal to smoke in a car with someone under the age of 18
