Industrial revolution

• What was a major step forward for patients in surgery?

  The conquest of pain
• Why did the introduction of anaesthetics not revolutionise surgery?

  High death rates from infection persisted
• What was the biggest killer after surgery at the time?

  Sepsis infection
• Who was the pioneer in antiseptics and when did he make his contributions?

  Ignaz Semmelweiss in 1847
• How did Semmelweiss reduce the death rate in his ward?

  By insisting doctors wash hands before treating
• What was the impact of Lister's use of carbolic acid in surgery?

  Reduced mortality rate from 46% to 15%
• What did Lister invent in 1871?

  A machine that sprayed carbolic acid
• What did Robert Koch discover in 1878?

  Disease spread by contact, not air
• What was Charles Chamerland's contribution to surgery?

  Invented a steam steriliser for instruments
• How did Gustav Neuber improve operating theatres?

  Insisted on thorough scrubbing and air sterilisation
• Who was the first British surgeon to wear gloves during operations?

  Berkeley Moyniham
• What was the overall impact of the changes in surgery by the end of the century?

  Surgery became much safer for patients
• What was the average age of death for working men in 1800s Britain?

  30 years
• How did the growth of towns and cities affect public health?

  Health conditions worsened for residents
• What was a common living condition in the slums of Britain?

  Few houses had toilets
• What led to the spread of diseases like cholera in the slums?

  Filthy water and poor sanitation
• What did many people believe caused diseases in the early 19th century?

  Miasma theory
• What was Edwin Chadwick's role in public health reform?

  He led an inquiry into living conditions
• What was the outcome of Chadwick's report?

  Highlighted need for cleaner streets and water
• How did the government initially respond to Chadwick's findings?

  They did not take immediate action
• What did the Public Health Act of 1848 establish?

  A Central Board of Health
• What was Dr. John Snow's major contribution during the cholera epidemic?

  Proved cholera was linked to water supply
• What event led to the construction of sewers in London?

  The Great Stink of 1858
• What was Joseph Bazalgette's role in public health improvement?

  Designed a network of sewers for London
• What did the 1866 Sanitary Act establish?

  Local authorities responsible for sewers
• What was the significance of the 1875 Public Health Act?

  Combined various health regulations into one
• Who challenged the theory of spontaneous generation?

  Louis Pasteur
• How did germ theory change the understanding of infections?

  Identified microbes as the cause of infections
• What did Pasteur's experiments focus on?

  Why wine and beer went sour
• What did surgeons believe about infections before germ theory?

  Infections grew from inside the patient
• Why were surgeons puzzled about wound healing?

  Some deep wounds healed quickly, others didn't
• What was the theory of miasma?

  Diseases were caused by bad smells or vapours
• What methods did surgeons initially use to treat wounds?

  They tried to keep patients healthy naturally
• What did surgeons do if a wound became infected?

  Used cauterising or acids to burn tissues
• Who challenged the theory of spontaneous generation in Europe?

  Louis Pasteur
• What did Pasteur investigate from 1857-1860?

  Why wine and beer often went sour
• What did Pasteur's experiments demonstrate about air and microbes?

  Keeping air out prevents liquid spoilage
• What did Pasteur conclude about germs?

  Germs are the real cause of disease
• What was Pasteur's profession?

  He was a chemist
• Who applied Pasteur's theories to human diseases?

  Robert Koch