19th century

• stethoscope


  enabled doctors to hear the internal workings of the body and assess a patients health more precisely
• x-ray machine


  allowed surgeons to see bones and assess illnesses more accurately
• thermometers


  gave doctors accurate records of patients temperatures
• swan neck flask

  • disapproved of spontaneous generation
  • showed microorganisms in the air caused contamination
• steam steriliser

  • for medical instruments
  • made by charles chamberland, 1881
  • removed need for carbolic acid
  • increased surgery survival rates
  • took time and was costly so few used
• aseptic surgery

  • by gustav neuber, 1886
  • remove all germs from operating theatre
  • built on listers ideas
  • reduced mortality rates
• carbolic acid

  • mortality rates fell from 46% in 1867 to 15% by 1870
  • sterilised room and patients
  • automatic spray to sterilise