Surgery and Hospitals

• Surgery and Hospitals


  Over time, surgeons became more important and developed their approach to surgery. From the 18th century, hospitals also focused more on treating patients (rather than just caring for them) as well as teaching.
• Surgeons became more Important

  In the Middle Ages, surgeons weren't respected compared to doctors. In the 1700s and 1800s, surgeons began to gain the same status as doctors. In 1800, the London College of Surgeons (later the Royal College of Surgeons) was created, which set training standards for the first time
• John Hunter


  A well-known Surgeon and Scientist
• Hunter's work


  1. Joined his brother William, a doctor, at his anatomy school in London

  2. Dissected human corpses over 12 years

  3. Developed an unrivalled knowledge of the human body
• Hunter


  • Became an army surgeon and a popular teacher
  • Made several important medical discoveries
  • Learned more about venereal disease (sexually transmitted infection)
  • Introduced a new approach to the treatment of gunshot wounds
• Hunter's treatment of aneurysm

  1. Tied off the blood vessel to encourage blood to flow through other vessels in the leg

  2. Stopped the leg from having to be amputated
• Hunter's approach to surgery

  • Encouraged better scientific habits like learning about the body to understand illness
  • Experimented to find better ways to treat disease
  • Tested treatments (e.g. on animals) before using them on people
• Hunter's pupils included doctors like Edward Jenner, so his methods and ideas were passed on
• This improved the way people conducted scientific research
• Hospitals


  Focused more on Treatment and Learning
• Several charity hospitals opened, including The London Hospital and Guy's Hospital


  Early 18th century
• Charity hospitals


  • Funded by the rich
  • Offered largely free treatment to the poor
  • Some specialised in treating certain illnesses or provided somewhere for mothers to give birth
• Admission to charity hospitals

  • Only those who were likely to recover quickly were admitted
  • This was because of a lack of space and the risk of illnesses spreading
  • The 'deserving' poor (those who led hardworking, respectable lives) had more chance of being admitted
• Dispensaries


  • Provided free non-residential care to poor people
  • Medicines and non-surgical services from people like dentists and midwives were given without charge
• Workhouses


  • Large buildings that people went to if they couldn't look after themselves (e.g. because of unemployment, illness or old age)
  • Conditions were poor, but from the 1850s a partially successful movement began to improve conditions in workhouse infirmaries
• Some hospitals were founded alongside universities or medical schools, including Charing Cross Hospital, University College Hospital and King's College Hospital

  19th century
• Hospitals founded with universities/medical schools


  • Used as training schools for doctors
  • Used for conducting scientific research
• Cottage hospitals, run by GP's, opened

  1860s
• Cottage hospitals


  Provided care for people in rural areas