c1900-present

• What did people know about diseases by 1900?

  Many diseases were caused by microbes.
• What was the first step in finding a treatment for diseases?

  Identifying that many diseases were caused by microbes.
• What was the goal in treating diseases caused by microbes?

  To find something that attacks the microbe without harming the patient.
• What was Salvarsan 606 known for?

  It was the first magic bullet for treating syphilis.
• Why was mercury used to treat syphilis problematic?

  It killed the syphilis bacteria but was very harmful to the patient.
• Who tested over 600 chemical compounds to find a cure for syphilis?

  Paul Ehrlich.
• What did Sahachiro Hata discover about compound number 606 in 1909?

  It actually cured syphilis.
• What was the breakthrough discovery made by Gerhard Domagk in 1932?

  Prontosil cured bacterial infections causing blood poisoning.
• How did Prontosil work to help patients?

  It stopped the bacteria from spreading, allowing the immune system to attack.
• What is penicillin known for?

  It was the first true antibiotic.
• How does penicillin differ from Prontosil?

  Penicillin destroys bacteria, while Prontosil only stops its spread.
• Who discovered penicillin in 1928?

  Alexander Fleming.
• What did Fleming notice while cleaning petri dishes?

  A mould developed that was attacking the bacteria.
• What did Florey and Chain do between 1938-1940 regarding penicillin?

  They worked out how to freeze dry penicillin for purification.
• What happened when penicillin was tested on a policeman in 1941?

  The policeman died when the penicillin ran out.
• Why did American companies invest in penicillin during World War II?

  To help soldiers dying from infected wounds.
• By 1944, what was the outcome of penicillin production?

  Enough penicillin was produced to treat all wounded soldiers.
• What were the key developments in surgery by 1900?

  • Development of anaesthetics made surgery less painful.
  • Antiseptic and aseptic surgery improved safety.
• What was a major problem in surgery that still needed to be solved?

  Blood loss during operations.
• What did Karl Landsteiner discover in 1900?

  Blood groups, allowing for correct blood transfusions.
• How did sodium citrate help during World War I?

  It allowed blood to be stored until needed.
• When was the first blood bank set up?

  In 1917 at the Battle of Cambrai.
• What technological developments improved diagnosis in the 20th century?

  • X-rays (discovered in 1895) for viewing bones and organs.
  • MRI scans (widely used in the 1980s) for detailed images.
  • CAT scans (invented in 1972) for computerized x-ray images.
• What do dialysis machines do?

  They wash the blood of patients with kidney failure.
• How does radiotherapy work?

  It uses x-rays to shrink cancerous tumours.
• What was the purpose of the 1875 Public Health Act?

  To improve sanitation and living conditions.
• What was the impact of compulsory smallpox vaccination in 1853?

  It led to fewer cases of smallpox.
• What was a major issue with healthcare affordability before the NHS?

  Many people could not afford doctors, hospitals, and medicines.
• When was the NHS established?

  In 1948.
• What services did the NHS provide?

  Most services were free, allowing access for the poorest people.
• What was the outcome of the diphtheria vaccination campaign started in 1940?

  Cases of diphtheria dropped significantly by 1957.
• What was the success of the polio vaccination campaign initiated in 1956?

  By the 1970s, under 10 people a year caught polio.
• What lifestyle campaigns does the NHS run to prevent illness?

  • Change4Life to encourage healthy habits.
  • Education on alcohol consumption and its risks.
  • Smoking prevention campaigns.
  • Promoting physical activity to prevent heart disease.
• What was the Clean Air Act of 1956 aimed at addressing?

  Reducing pollution from coal fires.
• What was the impact of the Great Smog in 1952?

  It killed 4,000 people due to lung damage.
• What did the government do in response to the smog problem?

  They enacted stricter Clean Air Acts in 1968.
• What was discovered about the cause of disease by 1900?

  Microbes, not miasma, caused disease.
• What did doctors believe about genes by 1951?

  Genes were passed from parents to children.
• What did Rosamund Franklin contribute to genetics in 1951?

  She created an x-ray photograph showing DNA's double helix structure.
• What significant breakthrough occurred in 2000 regarding genetics?

  The discovery of the human genome.