Britain: Health and the People, The beginning of change Flashcards
Rough approximation, covers other sections too (85 cards)
Who was Nicholas Culpeper and what did he do?
Wrote The complete herbal and published it in 1653; used plants and astrology in his treatments; highly critical of bloodletting and purging
Who was Thomas Sydenham, when was he born and when did he die, and what did he do?
Born 1624 and died 1689; English doctor stressed careful observation of symptoms and critical of quack medicine; notes symptoms of Scarlet fever and used iron for treating anaemia; dismissed dissections’ value and ignored Harvey’s discovery; still used bleeding for treatment; his book Medical Observations, published 1676 became standard textbook
What were sources of medical treatment in the 17th and 18th centuries?
Barber-surgeons: poorly trained offering small operations; Apothecaries: sold medicines and potions, little medical training; Wise women: treatments often relied on superstition and knowledge of plants and herbs; Quacks: showy, travelling salesmen selling all sorts of medicines; trained doctors: used mixture of new and traditional knowledge including the four humours
What were 17th and 18th century treatments?
Bloodletting; herbal remedies like bark of Cinchona tree from South America containing quinine for malaria; opium from Turkey used as anaesthetic; John Woodall, military surgeon, discovered in 1617 treatment of scurvy using lemons and limes; belief in power of royal touch to cure disease Scrofula
When did the Great Plague occur and where?
1665 in London
How many people did the Great Plague kill?
About 100,000 people in London (quarter of London population)
What were remedies used during the Great Plague?
Bleeding with leeches, smoking to keep away “poisoned” air, sniffing sponge soaked in vinegar, using animals like frogs, pigeons and snakes to draw out poison, moving to countryside like King Charles II and court did
What had people learned by the time of the Great Plague since the Black Death?
Recognised connection between dirt and disease; more organised approach; women searchers identified plague victims; more effective quarantine; bodies buried in mass plague pits; fires lit to remove poisons believed to be in air; streets swept and animals not allowed; gatherings of crowds banned; trade between towns stopped and Scottish border closed
When did the Great Fire of London occur?
1666
What ultimately ended the Great Plague?
Rats developed greater resistance to disease, so fleas didn’t need to find human hosts
How were hospitals paid for in the 17th and 18th centuries?
Paid for by the rich or by private subscription where locals clubbed together to pay
What were hospitals founded in the early 1700s and how were they paid for?
Westminister Hospital in London was founded by a private bank in 1719, Guy’s Hospital founded by merchant called Thomas Guy, who died in 1724
When was the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh founded and how was it paid for?
Founded in 1729, paid for by local churches and wealthy citizens
When was the Bristol Royal Infirmary founded and how was it paid for?
Founded in 1735 and paid for by wealthy merchant, Paul Fisher
When was the York County Hospital founded and how was it paid for?
Founded in 1740 and paid for by gifts from wealthy local people
When was Middlesex Hospital founded and how was it paid for?
Founded in 1745 and paid for by private subscription
When was Manchester Royal Infirmary founded and how was it paid for?
Founded in 1752 and paid for by local factory owner, Joseph Bancroft
When was Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge founded and how was it paid for?
Founded in 1766 and paid for by a bequest (inheritance) from Dr J Addenbrooke and local subscriptions
When was Leeds General Infirmary founded and how was it paid for?
Founded in 1771 and paid for by 5 local doctors
When was Birmingham General Hospital founded and how was it paid for?
Founded in 1779 and paid for by local businessmen, doctors and landowners
How many new general hospitals were build in London from 1720 - 1750 in addition to how many pre-existing ones?
5 added to London’s 2 ancient hospitals
How many patients did London’s hospitals have a year by 1800?
Over 20,000
What were hospitals like in the 18th century?
Had specialist wards for different types of disease, often had medical schools to train doctors, treatment free but still mainly based on four humours approach, some hospitals added pharmacies, giving poor free medicines, specialist hospitals established
When did Edinburgh get pharmacies, giving the poor free medicines?
1776
