Renaissance ideas about disease and illness: change and continuity Very little really changed in the practice of medicine during this period. However, the Renaissance was a time of new ideas and this included in the field of medicine. A new scientific approach was developing as some people began to question the Church and Galen. Use the table below and p.42-3 to answer the following questions: New ideas about disease and illness New ideas about disease and illness Influential individual In the 16th century, the Theory of the Four Humours was rejected by some radical physicians. Disease was seen as something separate from the body, needed to be attacked. New chemical treatments started to appear, influenced by the increasing popularity of alchemy. Paracelsus, a Swiss scientist and medical professor. In 1546, a new text called On Contagion theorised that disease was caused by seeds that spread in the air. Girolamo Fracastoro, an Italian physician. In 1628, a new theory was published in Britain, which suggested that blood circulated around the body instead of being made in the liver, as taught by Galen. William Harvey, an English scientist. A better understanding of the digestive system developed. This meant that people gradually stopped believing disease was caused by eating the wrong things. Urine was no longer seen as an accurate way of diagnosing illness. Jan Baptiste van Helmont, a Flemish physician. New microscopes were being developed, which allowed for a much clearer magnification. A new book, Micrographia, published in 1665, showed many detailed images, including a close-up drawing of a flea, copied from a magnified image. Robert Hooke, an English scientist and head of experiments at the Royal Society. In 1676, the medical textbook Observationes Medicae was published. This theorised that illness was caused by external factors, rather than the four humours. Thomas Sydenham, an English physician. By 1683, more powerful microscopes had been developed to allow for the observation of tiny “animalcules” or little animals in plaque scraped from between the teeth. The images were not very clear, Antony van Leeuwenhoek, a scientist.
Alignment of Saturn and Jupiter in October 1664. Punishment from God – Sent to clean up his world. Miasma – People believed that because streets were covered in rubbish and the warm weather spread miasma as it made the rubbish smell more. Some people believed it was caused as it was spread from person to person. THIS WAS FIRST LOGICAL IDEA!!! Hard to find treatments as so many were quarantined. Differences – Physicians advised patients be wrapped in woollen clothes and laid by a fire so that they could sweat it out. Transference was a different idea also – Strapping a Chicken to the boils. Herbal Remedies continued. Doctors took advantaged by making remedies and selling them as miracle cures. Best piece of advice – DON’T CATCH IT! Religion Carry a pomander – A ball containing perfumed substance. Plague doctors wore bird like mask with in. Birds were meant to attract disease so the bird shaped mask was a way of trying to draw the disease from the person. As symptoms were similar to syphilis, people were told to infect themselves with it. Government did more this time. Charles II decreed that people should fast and made a list of actions to stop spreading plague. LARGE EVENTS WERE BANNED, SUCH AS FUNERALS. Theatres and alleyways were closed. Cats, dogs and pigeons were killed. 40,000 dogs and 200,000 cats! also appointed searchers and wardens
Pasteur identified that microbes turned wine and vinegar bad. This discovery was called GERM THEORY, the main ideas were: Air contains microorganisms Microbes in air cause decay Microbes are not evenly distributed. Pasteur also theorised that if were causing decay they might be causing disease. He seemed to prove his theory by looking at the death of France’s silkworm population. Published his GERM THEORY OF INFECTION IN 1878. Discovered the bacteria that caused TB in 1882 and Cholera in 1883 and proved it was water-borne in 1884. Koch made it easier for scientists to study bacteria by developing new ways of growing them. He used agar jelly in a petri dish and also used industrial dye to make it easier to see microbes. Inspired other scientists to discover other microbes. Koch received Nobel Peace Prize in 1905. Impact of Pasteur Impact of Koch with Pasteur had zero impact as his original work was on food, not humans. Britain followed Spontaneous Generation 1870’s due to Dr Bastian. Some scientists did use Pasteur’s work, such as Lister who linked Germ Theory to surgical infection. Tyndall also used Germ Theory to look at link between microbes and disease. However Tyndall was not a Idea was an enormous breakthrough Doctors now studied the disease. Identifying microbes allowed scientists to find treatment for a range of serious issues such as Diphtheria in 1883, Cholera in 1883 and others going into the 20th century.
You may use the following in your answer: Chloroform Lister You must use information of your own in your answer Chloroform and Simpson Lister and Carbolic Spray Nightingale Chloroform allowed for longer and more in depth surgeries to happen. This was founded by Simpson when him and his friends were sniffing chemicals trying to find an alternative to laughing Gas. Surgery before Chloroform would have a significant impact on people. Many people dying due to shock with dressers holding them down. Patients would die of shock and surgeons would have to do the operation as quickly as possible due to the fact that if they did not the patient could bleed out. Chloroform replaced laughing gas which was a significant change as laughing gas made people vomit in their sleep and cause a severe irritation. Chloroform allowed for successful surgeries. Carbolic spray dealt with the issue of infection after surgery. It was used in the sewers and Lister used the idea of Germ Theory to state that if germs caused vinegar to rot when left, then they must make skin rot. Carbolic allowed for ASEPTIC SURGERY – Making sure germs did not get into the operation theatre. Even though the spray stopped being used in 1890, it allowed for surgeons to make their hospitals a lot cleaner. By 1900, doctors steam cleaned equipment, they developed hygiene in regards to rubber gloves and surgeons wore gowns and face masks. Nightingale helped make nursing a more respected career, allowing nurses to help in surgeries. Before this they were seen as unprofessional and drunks who flirted with patients. Nightingale the book notes for nursing which enabled nurses to train constantly which would have been a change in improved surgery, allowing them to help doctors rather than hinder. Nightingale also focused on cleanliness in hospitals, which would aid surgery as less people would die of infections after a war wound or surgery. Summarise how Simpson changed surgery Summarise how Lister change approaches to surgery
Exam Practice: Explain why there was rapid progress in the prevention of smallpox after 1798 (12) Government Individuals Experimentation Government made inoculation illegal in 1840. This was extremely important as inoculators were opposition to the vaccination as they were losing out on money. Furthermore, they were quite dangerous as the mortality rate of people who were inoculated was quite high. Government made vaccination compulsory in 1852. This was rapid change as it allowed both the rich and poor to be protected from smallpox. Smallpox was a massive issue in England as there were a number of epidemics that wiped out up to 3,000 people at one time. Given vaccinations for all allowed protection for the population, rich or poor. Government made sure that there were public vaccinators in 1871 which was important as if people could not get to a doctors then people could come to them. This could protect a range of people including the elderly. Jenner helped with the development of vaccinations as he infected James Phipps with cowpox. He then infected him with smallpox 6 weeks later and realised that he did not catch it. Jenner was important as he allowed individuals such as Pasteur and Koch to look into vaccinations and find for other diseases that were causing a high death rate. Jenner was a doctor which was very important as people respected what he said due to his professional position in the medical world. Jenner was able to back up his findings by writing them down, this would allow many people to use his findings to make the medical world a stronger place in which more diseases could be dealt with. Jenner experimented to ensure that his vaccination was not wrong. He did not just infect Phipps. Jenner observed the patients and made notes. He also made notes before his vaccination to see why inoculations did not work, this allowed him to back up his findings when he presented them. Jenner experimented on 1000’s of people and noted down all the successes. This was important so he could prove that Phipps was not a joke. Summarise the role of the government
Government had a clear understanding what caused disease, the government recognised that they now could have an impact. Their laissez-faire attitude was now left behind them. There were also some lifestyle initiatives such as Change4life. This encouraged people to eat healthily and prevent diet issues such as type 2 diabetes. During the Second World War there was a national campaign put in place to immunise all children against diphtheria. This led to diphtheria becoming a disease that was seen as a thing of the past. Lifestyle campaigns were also helpful in preventing illness. Advertising campaigns warning against dangers to health such as smoking, binge drinking, drug use and unprotected sex led to an understanding in lifestyle disease prevention. National Vaccination campaign was launched against diphtheria was launched in 1942. Diphtheria was a serious disease in which 3,000 children a year were dying of it. Other vaccinations were introduced that prevented unborn babies being harmed. For example Rubella and German Measles vaccination were introduced for pregnant women, therefore it was preventing pre-birth issues.
Government passed laws to promise a healthy environment. Bad smog in London led to the Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968. This tried to prevent the spread of Smog in London, therefore preventing people with Lung issues Lifestyle campaigns such as Stoptober led to a development in people being convinced to make a change for long term health benefits. Development of vaccinations at a significant pace during the 20th century. Polio vaccinations were introduced in 1956, followed by an effective vaccination in 1962. This led to a significant drop in infections. The last case of polio was in 1984. Government ensured that people who travelled abroad were tracked to prevent epidemics from other countries from impacting on UK. For example the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Communication of risks to the population has become key in government prevention. Other campaigns such as charities are also important in preventing diseases such as the British Heart Foundation. This raised money to help people prevent diseases by considering cures. Some Vaccinations target diseases that can lead to other diseases. The HPV vaccine, for example, protects women against infection from a STD that has been linked to cervical cancer.