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Medical Breakthroughs In The 19th Century

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“Poisons and medicines are sometimes the same substance given different intent.” (Latham Mere Peter) In the early 19th century, little was known about the depths of biology. Doctors and research began to wane away from traditional ideas that women were smaller versions of men, just turned inside out. While anatomy was thoroughly explored, the body was considered to be but a closed source of energy. The century brought forth a tremendous amount of change. Researchers began to challenge medicinal ideas and made momentous strides in several areas. In order to have an immersed understanding of medicinal developments of the 19th century, one must examine the driving factors, newer practices, medicinal advancements and leading scientist.
Epidemics …show more content…
Doctors struggled to find an effective and safe treatment. In turn the epidemic became hard to contain. The CDC states that the most effective treatment was hydration and hospitalization. Cases were met by mild illness and complete recovery (CDC).
Smallpox was also an epidemic doctor struggled to treat. According to the CDC, smallpox is a contagious disease caused by the variola virus. This rash induces high fever, body aches and vomiting. Smallpox is less contagious during its incubation stage,however once the early rash forms the illness is highly contagious. The death rate for smallpox was 30%. Many recovered, but were left with scars and in some cases blindness.
In Victorian era England, where smallpox was heavily endemic, medicine at first offered one option. According to the CDC, Doctor Edward Jenner noted that milkman who recovered from cowpox exhibited no symptoms of smallpox. Jenner then leads experiments in which he took cowpox samples and injected them into a child. He exposed the child the variola virus, but he never displayed smallpox symptoms. Jenner published his work in 1801 stating, “the annihilation of the smallpox, the most dreadful scourge of the human species, must be the final result of this …show more content…
Medicinal advancements greatly impacted the 19th century. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History states, “Medicine became recognizably modern in the 19th century, producing new inventions, new theories, new curative powers. { Along with} a rebirth of professionalism for both doctors and nurses.” The century put emphasis on innovation that followed in the 20th century.
Anesthesia immensely changed medical practice. Before its introduction in 1852, surgeries were complicated. Since the patient could feel incisions, often times the surgeon was limited to the patient's pain tolerance. This heavily restricted doctors' abilities to thoroughly treat their patients. (IWD)
Medical licensing was one of the major medical advancements. This dramatically decreased malpractice. The introduction of the medical licensing act sets guidelines of who was allowed to practice medicine. The act listed a 25 dollar fine for anyone found practicing without a license. Also only licensed physicians could recover fees (International Wellness

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