tackle infection and pain. Developments in industry led to better syringes and microscopes. Engineers developed solutions for water supply and sewage systems. changes in nursing and hospitals. A climate of competition between countries, and Pastuer’s motivation to find cures was motivated by a desire that France should lead medical research. climate of enquiry and research. Journals and publications of this research such as the Germ Theory 1861, became more widely available to others. AF2 Causation and Change Activity 3: Factors that help us to understand why continuity took place in Medicine 1750-1900 Role of Individuals Despite the work of pioneering individuals such as Jenner, Chadwick and Pasteur remained a great deal of opposition to new ideas about the causes and cures for illness and disease. Old Many old and ways of thinking and working continued. Blood letting was still widely practised as a treatment and superstition remained widespread when science appeared to be unable to provide explanations or solutions to why treatments worked. Role of Government The role of government was hindered by lack of experience and personnel, and fear of putting off voters because of the cost in tax. The growth of towns created many new health problems. FACTORS OF CHANGE 1750-1900 Science and Technology Scientists were unable to look deep inside the human body, or explain the genetic bases of human life. This presented barriers to the analysis of medical conditions and the development of many treatments and cures. War The continuation of European wars and the competition for colonies often diverted scarce resources into the armed forces. This meant that often the focus of effort was on the conduct of war rather than the consideration of public health provision. Communication and Education Funding changed only slowly and increased expenditure was often resisted. Education and communication about the need for change to deal with pressing medical and public health matters were not considered high priority. How far did the changing ideas impact on medicine 1750-1900? Focus.Changes in Industrialisation, Science and Technology and their impact on medicine.
AF2 Causation and Change Activity 9: How far did ideas about the causes of disease change in the period Analyse how far ideas about the causes of disease began to change by plotting your own living graph and labelling some of the significant points related to changing ideas about the causes of disease on it. In the 1870’s Koch discovered bacteria that caused human diseases such as anthrax, tuberculosis and Cholera. In 1861 Louis Pasteur published the Germ Theory of disease. Up until 1861 the idea that Miasma of bad air caused disease was very prominent. In the 1870’s and 80’s research teams of biologists and chemists were established in Universities to discover the bacteria that caused other human diseases Up until 1861 the idea that disease was Spontaneously Generated from living matter was very prominent By 1900 Microscopes were still not powerful to observe the basic building blocks of human life DNA, and could not investigate genetic illnesses.
Focus. Impact of industrialization, reasons for changes in healthcare provision. Activity 1: What problems were there with living conditions in early 18th century towns as a consequence of industrialisation? The nature of living conditions in early 19th century towns is illustrated in the drawing below. Overcrowding Because many people were migrating to towns for work, the population rose dramatically. This led to a building frenzy with builders and landlords out to make profits. Often whole families were forced to live in one or two rooms. Infections spread easily. Damp There were no building regulations. Housing for the poor was usually badly built. The foundations were shallow and there were no damp courses. The floors were laid directly onto bare earth and rain often got through the roofs. Damp is very bad for chest infections such as TB. Poor ventilation Houses were built very close together, to fit as many in as possible. Futhermore, back to back houses limited the number of windows in houses. This meant it was hard for fresh air to circulate. This was bad for chest infections. Food Cooking facilities were minimal. Food could not be stored hygienically so it was easily infected. Families were forced to buy small amounts at a time. This was expensive and meant that for many their diet was not sufficient to maintain good health. Water supply Most households collected water from standpipes, supplied by water companies. There were no laws on the quality of water provided. Some collected water from rivers. Often water was polluted and carried disease. Clothing and bodies were rarely washed Refuse and sewage There was no effective system for collecting rubbish, it was left in piles. Houses were built without toilets or sewers. Each group of houses shared a privy, a shed with a seat over a cesspit. They often overflowed, with infections seeping into the water supply AF2 Causation and Change Activity 2: Cholera. Answer the following questions in full paragraphs about Cholera using SHP Medicine text p106-108.