Discovery and development

• What is Louis Pasteurs background?

  • chemist asked to investigate why beer was turning sour in 1854
  • Using a microscope he discovered there were lots of small microorganisms in it
  • discovered they were killed by heating
• what did the french academy of science challenge chemists to do and when?

  • asked if spontaneous generation could be proved
  • in1860
• what did Pasteur discover?

  • if a mixture was heated and air was prevented from reaching it microorganisms were not created
  • this became germ theory
• what were the 4 principles of germ theory?

  • air contains living microorganisms
  • microorganisms can be killed by heating
  • microorganisms in air cause decay
  • microorganisms are not evenly distributed in air
• when was germ theory published?

  1861
• what was the impact of germ theory?

  • applied to medicine
  • attitudes took a long time to change
  • explained link to hygiene and health
• How did Joseph lister find out that carbolic acid was a disinfectant?

  • found out it was used to treat sewage
  • Killed microorganisms associated with decay and smell similarly to infected wounds
• how did lister know carbolic acid was working?

  • 11yr old with broken leg - set bone back and bandages of CA - healed well
  • used carbolic acid to serialise everything - death rate dropped dramatically
• what was the 4 issues with listers methods?

  • spray made instruments slip - slower operation
  • made doctors hands cracked and sore
  • people didn’t accept germ theory so thought it wasn’t needed
  • extra time and work
• what were the 2 key features of the sewer system?

  • big brick oval shape not pipes - didnt get stuck
  • waste to lower tidal parts of Thames - straight to sea
• by 1865 how much sewer had been built?

  2000
• when did the sewage system finish and how much overall did it cost?

  • 1875
  • 6.5 mil
• What was the government attitude described as?

  Laissez faire
• why did people not want the government to get involved?

  they would have to pay more taxes
• what was the sanitary act and when?

  • 1866
  • towns had to check water supplies and drainage
• what pressured the government to get involved?

  more people began to vote and be able to vote
• what did the public health act of 1875 enforce?

  • clean water
  • prevention of sewage water pollution
  • public toilets
  • new housing to avoid damp and overcrowded
  • inspecting lodging houses
  • inspectors
  • lighting in streets
  • checking food quality
• What pressured the government to take action?

  • in 1848 6% of population voted
  • parliamentary reform act of 1867 doubled voters
  • Political parties offered appealing policies so were thinking of what they wanted
• what were local cottage hospitals?

  • established in 1860
  • run by local GP
  • 12 beds
• what were large hospitals called?

  infirmaries
• when did Florence nightingale return to England?

  1856
• what was Florence nightingales book called and when was it published?

  notes on hospitals published in 1859
• When was nightingale school established?

  1860
• how did a woman become a doctor?

  • have a degree
  • pass exams
  • accepted to a medical society
  • listed on a medical register
• Who was Elizabeth garret anderson?

  • first woman in Britain to qualify as a doctor
  • Initially nurse
  • rejected to med school - priv lessons
  • Cant go to college - woman - dad threatened to sue
  • Medical degree in Paris
  • became member of British medical association in 1873 and changed regulations so women could join