History (1800s)
Edward Jenner
• Created the Smallpox vaccine
• In 1796, he did this by taking cowpox pus from one patient and smearing it into a small cut on another patient
• This patient became ill with cowpox, however when placing smallpox into the patient he discovered that cowpox gave protection against smallpox
• People were against him as they believed God gave disease. He could not also explain how his vaccination worked as he did not know about germs
• His work encouraged others to find other vaccines
John Hunter
• English Surgeon
• His books showed the theoretical knowledge needed to understand anatomy
• In 1771, he published 'The natural history of teeth'
• His book 'Blood inflammation and gunshot wounds' put to rest the idea that gunshot wounds were poisoned
• Experimented on himself to prove that gonorrhoea and syphillis were different diseases by injecting himself with them
• Experimented on patients that if he encouraged new blood vessels to develop by restricing the existing ones, he would not need to amputate the leg
• He tested this theory of aneurysms on a patient, who was able to walk out of hospital 6 weeks later
Robert Liston
• Renowned for his his speed and strength
• Once amputated a leg in 28 seconds
• First to use ether as an anaesthetic during surgery
John Snow
• Responsible for discovering that cholera was a water-borne disease in 1854
• Plotted each death on a map and proved all the people had died to a specific water pump
• The handle of the pump was removed and no further cases were seen
• This theory wasnt proved until Louis Pasteur discovered bacteria
Louis Pasteur
• French Scientist
• Discovered a direct connection between germs and disease
• Published his Germ Theory (germs caused disease) in 1861, and that germs caused infection in 1878
• He made his discovery as he saw micro-organisms growing in a liquid, which meant sterilising water which was kept in an open flask meant microbes would grow
• Called the process of heating liquid to kill bacteria 'Pasteurisation'
• His theory encouraged others to develop the theory, such as Robert Koch in 1876
Robert Koch
• German Doctor
• The 'Founder of modern bacteriology'
• Discovered that specific germs linked to specific diseases; Anthrax in 1876, TB in 1882 and Cholera in 1883
• Encouraged others to study disease itself, rather than studying/treating symptoms
• Rivals w Pasteur since they were helping one another w their own discoveries
James Simpson
• Scottish Doctor
• Experimented with different types of anaesthetics for use during childbirth
• Discovered that chloroformwas effective in 1847, which had limited side effects when used in correct dose
Joesph Lister
• English Surgeon
• Known as 'Father of modern surgery'
• Experimented with chemicals to clean patients' wounds
• Thought germs caused infection
• Soaked bandages in Carbolic acid to keep wounds clean
• Patients who would normally need amputation due to infections began to heal with Lister's treatment
• He said that hands, clothes and surgical tools should also be washed with this chemical
• This led to a decrease in the risk of infection
• Invented a carbolic acid spray to clear surgical theatres but the acid was dangerous to inhale
Joesph Bazelgette
• Chief designer and engineer on London's sewer system, ordered after the Great Stink
• Bazalgette's system was designed to remove waste from London's streets by carrying waste downriver towards the sea
• These sewers covered a distance of 83 miles and removed 420 million gallons of waste per day
• Opened in 1865, but developed during the 1870s
• Cost £3 million