18th and 19th century

Question 1

When were microscopes about?

Answer 1

By 1700 the microscope had developed o more could be seen. By 1850 microscopes had further improved so that extremely tiny images were seen clearly.

Question 2

What was the germ theory?

Answer 2

• In 1861 Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which showed that spontaneous generation was incorrect.
• He proved that microbes in the air caused decay as well as germs also being caused by disease but was unable to prove this.
• Robert Koch read Pasteur’s work and began to study microbes himself.
• He proved that microbes caused disease as well as decay, just as Pasteur said.
• Koch also proved that chemical dyes stained bacteria which made them easier to see under a microscope.
• Eventually these discoveries were to have a direct impact on prevention and cure of many diseases.

Question 3

What were the improvements in hospital care?

Answer 3

• New hospitals opened in the 19th century to look after the sick
• middle and upper classes could afford doctors to treat them at home
• the elderly, sick or disabled were forced to enter workhouses
• most hospitals created a home atmosphere
• specialist hospitals developed
• nurses were given better roles
• big improvement in hygiene

Question 4

Who is Florence Nightingale?

Answer 4

• She attended the first nurses training school
• she was asked to lead a team of nurses at the military hospital during the Crimean war (1854-56)
• She believed miasma caused disease so she improved hygiene and good training
• she lowered the death rate from 42% to 2%
• her work was taught in schools and she set up training schools for nurses

Question 5

Describe the search for anaesthetic.

Answer 5

• Before 1800, alcohol and opium had little success in easing pain in operations
• Laughing gas was used in 1844 in dentists but failed to ease all pain and patients remained conscious
• Ether was used from 1846 and made patients totally unconscious and lasted a long time but It could make patients cough and sick afterwards.
• Chloroform was used from 1847 and was very effective with few side effects however it was very difficult to get the dose right. So some people actually died from it. James Simpson discovered it.
• Cocaine was used as the first local anaesthetic in 1884. in 1905 a less addictive version (novocaine) was used as general anaesthetic

Question 6

Describe the development of antiseptics

Answer 6

• 1861 - half the patients die from surgery due to infection (Joseph Lister starts work as a surgeon)
• 1864 - Lister reads Pasteur’s Germ Theory and learns carbolic acid kills parasites
• 1865 - Lister soaks bandages in carbolic acid to avoid wounds getting infected
• 1866 - Lister uses Carbolic acid to clean wounds and equipment to kill germs in the air
• 1867 - Lister states that his wards have been free from infection for 9 months and he publishes his ideas.
• 1877 - Lister becomes professor of surgery at Kings college Hospital in London.

Question 7

Describe the development of vaccinations.

Answer 7

• Pasteur published hi ideas on the germ theory in 1861
• Pasteur’s team of scientists discovered that a weakened version of a disease-causing microbe could be used to create immunity
• Pasteur admired Jenner and called his new discovery ‘vaccination’ in tribute to him.
• Pasteur developed vaccines for animals against anthrax, rabies and chicken cholera
• Pasteur’s work inspired other scientists to develop vaccines for human diseases.

Question 8

What was the Public health act of 1875?

Answer 8

• clean water
• sewers
• public toilets
• street lighting
• public parks
• inspect lodging houses for cleanliness
• check quality of food sold
• employ a public officer of health

Question 9

Why was there a Public Health act of 1875?

Answer 9

By 1875 people recognised that it was the governments responsibility to improve living condition in the cities.

Question 10

Who was John Snow?

Answer 10

• He discovered that cholera was spread through water rather than miasma.
• He mapped all the deaths of cholera near where he lied and it all came back to a water pump in broad street.
• He removed the handle of the pump so people couldn’t get water from it and the number of deaths dropped dramatically
• It was later discovered that a cesspit was leaking water into the pipes
• In 1855 Snow presented his findings to the government

Question 11

What was the significance of John Snow?

Answer 11

• Many cholera deaths were prevented after Snow stopped the water pump
• Many did not believe snows theory because he had no evidence. Therefore the government didn’t act on it
• Snow worked on evidence and a new sewer was build in 1875