2. Lesson Objectives
To be able to identify the 3 key problems that still existed in 19th Century surgery
To explain how these problems are overcome in modern surgery
To evaluate which problem was most significant in terms of surgical progress

3. The Industrial Revolution – Medicine on the brink
Industrial Period – 18th Century, 1750 – 1900
New interest in science and experimentation continued into 18th Century, but didn’t really impact on medicine until 19th Century
Medical profession became more respected in 18th century
‘Quackery’ continued – many Doctors clung to the 4 humours, miasmas, piss-prophets, useless pills, hypnotism

4. What was the situation in 1820?
Despite advances of 17th and 18th Century, medical practice and knowledge was still limited
1) People still didn’t know what really caused disease – due to lack of knowledge of chemistry and lack of equipment – microscopes existed, but werent very powerful.
2) Surgical Operations were carried out in filthy conditions – no knowledge of need for cleanliness. Infection was very common.
3) Operations were done really quickly because there were no effective anaesthetics.
Patients often died from trauma of the pain.
Patients also died of blood loss – couldnt carry out successful transfusions cos unaware of blood groups

5. What was the impact of the Industrial Revolution?
Population increased rapidly
Factories full of machines developed
Around the factories large towns grew up very quickly – because they were built in a rush = slum housing, poor public health and epidemics of infectious disease
Industrialisation stimulated rapid development of the sciences and technology – eg. deeper knowledge of physics and improvements in glass making led to more powerful microscopes – VITAL in discovery that germs cause disease – this breakthrough led to new cures and vaccines

8. Pain was a problem because…
The solution would come through…
Infection was a problem because…
Blood loss was a problem because…