Medicine in 18th and 19th Century Britain

Question 1

who discovered vaccines?

Answer 1

• Edward Jenner in 1796

Question 2

what was the opposition to vaccination?

Answer 2

• many doctors were earning lots from inoculation and didn’t want to lose that
• the Church didn’t like the idea of using a cow disease in human medicine
• because of this, the Royal Society didn’t publish his ideas

Question 3

what was the government intervention for vaccination?

Answer 3

• in 1852, vaccination was compulsory and was strictly enforced from 1872
• you would be fined for not vaccinating your children
• this resulted in less smallpox deaths

Question 4

what was smallpox?

Answer 4

• a deadly disease that was popular in children

Question 5

where did Jenner get his inspiration from?

Answer 5

• he observed that milkmaids who caught cowpox did not catch smallpox

Question 6

describe the development of the smallpox vaccine:

Answer 6

• James Phipps was selected, a healthy young boy
• cowpox was taken and inserted in his body
• Jenner observed that James had some symptoms but became well again
• James was then inoculated with smallpox but no disease followed
• this was done 23 times to prove his theory and published a book in 1798

Question 7

what was cholera caused by?

Answer 7

• overcrowding, lack of proper sewage and sanitation
• this was because of the Industrial Revolution

Question 8

how did people try to prevent cholera?

Answer 8

• burning barrels of tar to remove bad air
• praying
• taking medicines that promised protection
• burning the clothing and bedding of victims

Question 9

when did the cholera epidemic break out?

Answer 9

• in 1854

Question 10

who was John Snow?

Answer 10

• the man who investigated the cholera outbreak

Question 11

how did John Snow investigate cholera?

Answer 11

• plotted each death on a map and proved that all the victims lived close to the same water pump
• he knew the pump was used for drinking, washing and cooking
• removed the handle so no one could use it
• there were no new cases of cholera or deaths in that area
• he discovered a cesspit close to the pump that had been leaking waste

Question 12

what was the impact of John Snow’s investigation?

Answer 12

• proved dirty water caused the spread of cholera
• many people didn’t believe this until the Germ Theory
• Snow was correct but didn’t know the bacteria was causing the disease

Question 13

who came up with the Germ Theory?

Answer 13

• Louis Pasteur in 1861, he was inspired from the idea of fermentation

Question 14

what was the influence of the Germ Theory?

Answer 14

• his ideas weren’t initially accepted in Britain straight away
• Joseph Lister read his work and made links between bacteria and surgery

Question 15

how was the Germ Theory developed?

Answer 15

• in 1861, Pasteur published his germ theory
• this showed that spontaneous generation was incorrect
• he proved microbes in the air cause decay
• he theorised that germs caused disease but could not prove this

Question 16

who proved the Germ Theory?

Answer 16

• Robert Koch

Question 17

how did Koch grow bacteria?

Answer 17

• in a petri dish using agar jelly
• used a dye to stain the bacteria and see it under a microscope
• this meant he could identify individual bacteria

Question 18

what bacterium did Koch discover?

Answer 18

• anthrax in 1876
• TB in 1882
• cholera in 1883

Question 19

what was the impact on Koch’s work?

Answer 19

• inspired scientists
• doctors had better understanding that bacteria was what needed to be removed

Question 20

what were hospitals like?

Answer 20

• few toilets and poor sewage systems
• overcrowded wards
• lack of cleanliness which spread infection

Question 21

what was the influence of Florence Nightingale?

Answer 21

• wrote two books
• opened her first Nightingale School for Nurses in 1860

Question 22

how did Nightingale improve hospitals?

Answer 22

• there was regular handwashing
• improvements to sewerage
• improved ventilation

Question 23

what was in the 1875 Public Health Act?

Answer 23

• it was compulsory
• improve sewers and the removal of waste
• provide clean water
• appoint medical officers to inspect public health facilities

Question 24

why was the government finally taking action?

Answer 24

• the Germ Theory
• once there was scientific proof, people were willing to fund better living conditions
• working men could vote in 1867 so parties would address their issues to gain support

Question 25

how did the government react to vaccinations?

Answer 25

• there were vaccination programmes
• this targeted rabies and typhoid

Question 26

what was the Edwin Chadwick report?

Answer 26

• showed people living in cities had lower life expectancies
• he concluded this was because of dirt and difficult living conditions
• he recommended better supplies of clean water and regular waste removal

Question 27

what was the 1848 Public Health Act?

Answer 27

• encouraged cities to set up boards of health and provide clean water
• it had little impact as these measures were optional and expensive

Question 28

how did the Great Stink make an impact?

Answer 28

• the smell was directly outside parliament so the government acted

Question 29

who invented antiseptics?

Answer 29

• Joseph Lister in 1867, he knew about the germ theory and discovered carbolic acid killed the bacteria in open wounds

Question 30

what did Lister recommend?

Answer 30

• doctors/nurses should wash hands in carbolic acid before surgery
• bandages and ligatures should be soaked in carbolic acid
• carbolic spray should be used to clean the area of and operation

Question 31

what was the impact of Joseph Lister?

Answer 31

• operation death rate fell from 46 to 15 percent
• aseptic surgery was developed

Question 32

what was the black period of surgery?

Answer 32

• although pain was no longer an issue, some surgeons carried out longer and more complex operations
• infections could then develop deeper and there would be more blood loss

Question 33

who discovered chloroform?

Answer 33

• James Simpson in 1847

Question 34

what was the opposition to the use of chloroform?

Answer 34

• some surgeons wanted patients to fight for their lives
• religious people believed that God intended for pain
• some people worried about overdoses

Question 35

how did Simpson discover chloroform?

Answer 35

• it was accidental after inhaling different chemicals and quickly found that chloroform was effective

Question 36

what was invented to measure the chloroform dosage?

Answer 36

• the inhaler by John Snow

Question 37

what attitude did the government have in the 18th century?

Answer 37

• “laissez faire”, that it was not their role to interfere in everyday life
• this changed in the 19th century

Question 38

what was the role of science and technology?

Answer 38

• by 1750, the Church and classical ideas had lost their dominant influence
• scientists could experiment and challenge old ideas
• new theories could be proved
• ideas could be spread more quickly throughout Britain