The Transformation of Surgery c.1845 c.1918 UNIT AIM: To know and understand how surgery was transformed during the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries To test your understanding of source enquiry skills.

The Transformation of Surgery

Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery Listen to the extract. Write down three words to describe surgery in the first half of the 19 th century Recommended reading: Available in the resource centre

What can you learn from this source about the state of surgery before the 1840’s? A cartoon produced c. 1750

This drama is set in Watch the clip carefully – what us it tell us about the state of surgery at this time.

Surgery and anaesthetics in the19 th century Read the information on page 108. Why was surgery so limited until the 19 th century?

Why was surgery limited before the nineteenth century? The problems of performing major surgery. PAIN INFECTION BLEEDING

Activities Answer the questions on page 109.

The Discovery of anaesthetics Lesson aims: To know how anaesthetics were developed and what role pain relief played in the development of surgery. To know and understand the role of key individuals in the development of anaesthetics.

What people believed at the time: Pain, a Burden to be Borne In the 1800s, most people expected to experience pain in their lives and relied on religion or personal fortitude to help them endure it. Pain was one of God's punishments for the wicked and purifying trials for the good; for the woman in labour, pain was the spiritual experience that would transform her into a self-sacrificing mother. Many doctors shared these views! Other physicians were concerned about the ethics of operating on a comatose patient and many were concerned about the potential risk of death from an overdose of anaesthetic.

The History of Anaesthesia Watch the DVD and I will pause at various points for you to make notes. Keep in mind: who are the key individuals? what problems did they face? how did their discoveries revolutionise medicine?

Nitrous Oxide Humphrey Davy ( ) suggested that the pain and shock of surgical operations might be relieved if patients inhaled nitrous oxide, a gaseous compound discovered by Joseph Priestley (who was also the first to isolate oxygen).

Wells and Nitrous Oxide Horace Wells was a dentist in the USA. He used nitrous oxide when extracting teeth. Horace Wells

The unusual history of ether William Morton a dentist and associate of Wells discovered ether was a longer lasting anaesthetic William Morton But what problems were associated with ether?

Chloroform and James Young Simpson Why was he so determined to solve the problem of pain? How successful was chloroform? Why did some people oppose pain relief?

Chloroform Benefits + Much less needed to knock out patient Acts quickly and completely No problems with coughing (ether) Could perform more complex operations Surgeons be tidier – no need for speed Drawbacks – Unsure of quantity to give each patient Drs feared it may slow the healing process Reports of deaths from cardiac arrests.

Why were people opposed to anaesthetics? Reports of sudden deaths from chloroform Religious beliefs – God’s plan Long term effects of anaesthetics not known. Drs feared easier for a patient to die if unconscious Patients fear of Drs power over them Drs may take unnecessary risks Drs feared it may slow the healing process

The inhaler designed by John Snow and used on Queen Victoria in child birth. Why did this make the use of chloroform safer? Why did the use of chloroform become widely accepted after the Queen had used it?

James Simpson’s statue in Edinburgh Thousand attended his funeral. He is remembered as the father of modern Anaesthesia. Does he deserve that title?

Did the development of anaesthetics mean that more complex surgery could be carried out?

Factors in the development of anaesthetics Write an explanation of the role of each factor in the search for better anaesthetics. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RELIGION SOCIAL ATTITUDES

PAIN THINK QUESTIONS What is an anaesthetic? What were the problems facing surgeons before their discovery? Why did surgery develop after anaesthetics? What problems still remain for surgeon and patients?

homework Read pages 112 and complete activities 1-3 Write the answers as though they are GCSE questions each worth 6 marks. Look at the mark scheme on page 113. They are inference questions – read the summary on page 113.