WW1 Flashcards
(43 cards)
Give features of the effects of poison gas attacks on soldiers.
Chlorine gas affected the victim’s breathing. The victim died quickly from suffocation.
Phosgene gas had similar effects to chlorine gas and killed the victim through suffocation. It
affected the lungs.
Mustard gas caused blisters on the skin, internal bleeding and affected the eyes and lungs. It could take days for the sufferer to die.
Explain one way in which the methods used by doctors to diagnose illness during the medieval period (c1250–1500) were different from the methods used during the modern period (c1900–present)
In the medieval period, doctors would ask about the patient’s humours and consider whether they were flushed or sick, whereas in the modern period tests and scans could be carried out to discover any internal cause of illness.
In the medieval period the doctor might enquire about the patient’s star sign because they believed that the patient could be affected by astrology, but in the modern period doctors might ask about other family members because they know that some conditions are hereditary.

Explain why the role of the Church in medicine decreased in importance in the years c1250-c1700.
The Church fostered the ideas of Galen as the basis of medical training but the work of Vesalius and Harvey identified errors in his work, which then challenged the authority of the Church.
Universities began to offer medical degrees that were out of the Church’s control.
During the Reformation in the sixteenth century, religious houses were closed down, which meant that
the Church no longer played a key role in providing care for the ill.
The work of Vesalius and Harvey showed the importance of dissections, even though the Church disapproved of this practice.
The printing press allowed ideas to spread quickly, which challenged the Church’s control of education and medical training.
The Royal Society encouraged a spirit of inquiry and emphasised the need for evidence to be demonstrated rather than just accepting ideas.
‘John Snow’s work on cholera was a turning point in the prevention of infectious diseases c1700-c1900’
Give reasons that support this statement.
Before Snow’s work, Jenner’s vaccination had been effective but only against smallpox.
Before Snow’s work on the Broad Street cholera epidemic, there was no understanding of how diseases spread – most people believed in miasma.
When Snow removed the handle from the Broad Street pump, cholera decreased, which showed that it was water-borne.
Snow showed that disease could be prevented even if the cause of it was not understood.
When new sewers were built in the 1860s and 1870s, cholera epidemics ended in those areas, reinforcing
his emphasis on provision of clean water and the removal of sewage.
‘John Snow’s work on cholera was a turning point in the prevention of infectious diseases c1700-c1900’
Give reasons that counter this statement.
John Snow’s work was relevant to cholera and other water-borne diseases but had little impact on other infectious diseases such as TB or smallpox.
Prevention of infectious diseases only became possible in the late nineteenth century as vaccinations were developed, based on the work of Pasteur.
Prevention of infectious disease was not fully effective until the government took responsibility for public health, 1875.
What was a tithe?
a tax paid to support the church and the clergy
How powerful was the Church?
It was really powerful as it controlled everything; education, hospitals ect.
What were supernatural beliefs about illness in the middle ages?
A punishment from God
What were natural beliefs about illness in the middle ages??
Four humours
What was Leprosy?
A highly contagious disease that would cause limbs to fall off
How was it Leprosy dealt with in the Middle Ages?
Isolate the infected
How was astrology linked to illness?
Some people believed that if the planets were in a particular position you’d catch an illness.
What were the four humours?
Black bile
Yellow bile
Blood
Phlegm
Who was Hippocrates?
A Greek doctor who developed the four humours
Why was the theory of the four humours so popular?
It was one of the first rational theories that the church agreed with
What was the Theory of the Opposites? Why was it important?
If you were too hot, the treatment would be to eat something cold such as a cucumber.
It was the first time there was specific treatment.
What was the Articella?
A collection of books used to teach doctors
Why did little change during the Middle Ages?
the loss of medical knowledge/ bad doctors
the forbidding by the Church of dissection, and its encouragement of prayer and superstition)
the encouragement by the Church of prayer and superstition
the emphasis on ‘authority’ rather than on observation and investigation
the lack of resources to build public health systems
social disorder and war, which disrupted communication and learning
the lack of knowledge
many people were stubborn and unwilling to change their views
the church…
- insisted that people agree with the writings of Galen
- encouraged people to rely on prayers to the saints and superstition to cure them of disease
- encouraged the belief that disease was a punishment from God - this led to fatalism and prevented investigation into cures
What is the difference between treatment and prevention?
treatment is getting rid of a disease that is already present
prevention is trying to stop someone from catching a disease
What were examples of prevention?
Carrying herbs to stop miasma
What were examples of religious and supernatural treatments?
Praying
Flagellation
What was phlebotomy?
Blood letting
What were examples of bleeding?
cutting veins
leeches
What was purging?
making yourself sick in order to get rid of bile
