Medicine in 18th and 19th Century (1700 - 1900)

• Britain experienced more changes in the 18th and 19th centuries than in any period before
• Changes in 18th and 19th century Britain

  • As a result of the Industrial Revolution
  • Close developments in science and technology
  • Change in the government's attitude towards its role in the everyday lives of the population
• Industrial Revolution

  The process that transformed manufacturing from handmade to machine-made, mass-produced goods using water, steam and coal power transported by canal, rail and steamship. Britain was the first country to have an Industrial Revolution.
• Huge numbers of people moved from the countryside to urban centres, leaving rural jobs in farming and agriculture, and found work in factories, mills and mines
• By the end of the 19th century, most people in Britain were employed in factories and workshops
• Cities became the main centres of production. By 1900, London had a population of 4.5 million
• Cities could become overcrowded, and often the growing workforce was accommodated in poor-quality housing. The streets became filled with waste. Without fresh water and a sewerage system, disease spread easily
• Sewerage system

  A series of underground pipes that take away waste water to be cleaned and re-used.
• By 1750, the Church and classical ideas had lost their dominant influence and scientific ideas were much more accepted
• Microscope

  A device used to enlarge tiny objects that cannot be seen by the naked eye.
• Laissez-faire


  Translated as 'leave well alone' or 'let the people choose'. A government policy of interfering as little as possible in social and economic policy.
• Legislation

  The passing of laws.
• By the late 19th century, people began to accept that it was part of the government's role to look after the health of its people
• By the late 19th century, the national government began to pass legislation to force local authorities to improve living conditions and prevent the spread of disease and illness
• What significant change in medicine occurred following the publication of Louis Pasteur's germ theory?

  It led to significant changes in surgery and better prevention of disease.
• What was the theory of spontaneous generation?

  It was the belief that decaying matter created microbes.
• Who was Louis Pasteur?

  A French scientist who specialized in chemistry and microbiology.
• What process did Pasteur develop to prevent drinks from going sour?

  He developed pasteurisation by heating liquids to kill bacteria.
• What is pasteurisation?

  It is the process of heating liquids to kill bacteria.
• How did Pasteur use the swan neck flask in his experiments?

  It trapped bacteria from the air, preventing contamination of the liquid.
• What did Pasteur's germ theory prove?

  That bacteria were the cause of disease.
• Why were Pasteur's ideas not immediately accepted in Britain?

  Many people continued to believe in the idea of spontaneous generation.
• Who was Joseph Lister?

  A surgeon who linked bacteria to infection in surgery.
• What challenge did Lister face in proving his ideas about bacteria?

  It was difficult to separate harmful bacteria from those already present.
• What advancement allowed scientists to see bacteria more clearly?

  More advanced microscopes.
• What was the role of bacteria in fermentation according to Pasteur's findings?

  Bacteria were involved in the process of fermentation and spoilage.
• In what year did Pasteur publish his germ theory?

  1861
• How did Pasteur's germ theory challenge the existing beliefs about disease causation?

  It contradicted the idea of spontaneous generation by proving bacteria caused disease.
• What was the significance of the swan neck flask in Pasteur's experiments?

  It demonstrated how bacteria could be trapped and prevented from contaminating liquids.
• What did Pasteur's experiments with fermentation lead to?

  A greater understanding of how to prevent spoilage in liquids.
• What was the public perception of Pasteur's germ theory in the 19th century?

  It was met with skepticism and resistance by many.
• How did the advancements in microscopy contribute to the understanding of bacteria in the 19th century?

  They allowed scientists to observe bacteria directly, aiding in the study of infections.
• What did the theory of miasma suggest about disease causation?

  It suggested that diseases were caused by bad air from decomposing materials.
• What was the impact of improved microscopes on the study of microbes?

  They enabled scientists to see and study microbes more effectively.
• How did Pasteur's work influence future research in medicine?

  It laid the groundwork for understanding the role of bacteria in disease and infection.
• What was the main focus of Pasteur's research?

  The relationship between microbes and fermentation.
• How did Pasteur's findings challenge the existing medical theories of his time?

  They provided evidence against the belief in spontaneous generation.
• What role did Joseph Lister play in the acceptance of germ theory?

  He linked bacteria to surgical infections, supporting Pasteur's ideas.
• What was the primary challenge in proving the link between bacteria and infection?

  Separating harmful bacteria from those already present in the body.
• Who published the germ theory that influenced medicine in the 18th and 19th centuries?

  Louis Pasteur