Medicine through time: Industrial Revolution Flashcards
What was the Spontaneous Generation Theory?
The Theory that when matter decays, tiny “animalcules” miraculously are grown
What influence did Pasteur’s Germ Theory (1861) have?
It was slow to be accepted in Britain, but he made the link between illness and microbes.
-Germs are everywhere.
-They are not evenly distributed.
-They can be killed by heat.
-Germs are the cause of decay, not the result of it.
What was the importance of Koch’s work on specific microbes?
The exact cause of big killers such as Cholera and Tuberculosis were known.
With the germ identified it was possible to create scientific vaccines and search for precise chemical cures.
What improvements were there in hospital care?
Donations from the wealthy gave the “deserving” poor the chance of gaining treatment in a hospital, not just rest.
What was the specific influence of Florence Nightingale?
She set a new standard for cleanliness in hospitals and professionalism in the nursing profession.
1859: Notes on Nursing.
1860: The Nightingale School for Nursing.
Her standards massively dropped the mortality rates in hospitals. From 40% to 2% in some cases.
She helped develop Pavilion Plan Hospitals which had far better ventilation and kept infectious patients suffering from different diseases away from each other.
What impact did anesthetics have on surgery?
Chloroform in 1847 was the first chemical that successfully kept patients unconscious for a sufficient amount of time.
Surgeons gained bravery in the length of time and complexity of operation they were willing to carry out.
What impact did antiseptics have on surgery?
Ended the “Black Period of Surgery”
After 1867, the death from infection rate fell dramatically.
Carbolic Spray, used by Joseph Lister, was the first widely used antiseptic and also played a role in helping Germ Theory gain acceptance.
How were vaccinations developed and used?
1796: First Vaccination - used against Smallpox.
It became widespread with support from the Government. In 1853, it was made compulsory and the extent to which it was “rolled out” was helped by the government appointing public vaccinators.
What was the impact of the 1875 Public Health Act?
It was made an expectation that local councils provide clean water, proper drainage and sewage systems.
A Medical Health Officer was appointed for all areas of the country so that outbreaks of disease like Cholera could be monitored.
It led to smaller laws that were more specific to improving health like the Artisans Dwelling Act (home improvements) Sale of Food and Drug Acts (removed chalk flour from bread) and Laws against the pollution of rivers.
How did Jenner develop his vaccine?
He theorised milkmaids did not get Smallpox because they were made immune by coming into contact with Cowpox.
He exposed James Phipps to Cowpox and he subsequently did not catch Smallpox.
He repeated the process on several other people.
What supported the impact of Jenner’s vaccine?
By 1840 the Royal Society had widely published Jenner’s work
The Government banned variolation (inoculation) in 1840, and offered the smallpox vaccine free of charge
The Government, through making the vaccine compulsory (1853) and appointing vaccinators (1875).
The urgency in society to overcome repeated outbreaks and education to help uneducated people accept the vaccine.
What attempts were made to stop the spread of cholera?
The 1848 Public Health Act had given local areas the power to appoint a Medical Officer to improve the public’s health if they wished.
What was the significance of John Snow and his work around the Broad Street Pump?
A Spot Map in 1854 linked an outbreak of Cholera in Soho, to a water pump in Broad Street.
It was important for society because it highlighted the need for efficient waste disposal.
It took the Great Stink later in the 1850s for the government to act on the findings of Snow and improve the sewage system in London.
