Overview
This lecture covers the key developments in British medicine from medieval times through the modern era, focusing on ideas about disease, approaches to treatment, changes in healthcare, and significant medical advancements.
Medieval Medicine: Ideas and Practices
- Disease was attributed to supernatural forces, divine punishment, astrology, and imbalance of the four humors (blood, phlegm, black bile, yellow bile).
- The miasma theory (bad air) was believed to cause illness.
- Medical knowledge relied heavily on Hippocrates, Galen, and the Church; progress was slow due to religious dominance and lack of scientific methods.
- Treatments included prayer, pilgrimages, bloodletting, purging, herbal remedies, and amulets.
- Care was provided by physicians (wealthy), apothecaries, barber surgeons, and often family/community, especially women.
- Hospitals were mainly religious institutions providing basic care and spiritual support.
Renaissance Medicine
- Continuity: Belief in miasma, astrology, and some humoral ideas persisted.
- Change: Four humors theory was challenged; anatomy and observation improved (Vesalius, Harvey), and the microscope revealed microorganisms.
- Thomas Sydenham promoted observation over tradition; printing press and Royal Society spread new ideas.
- New treatments included “transference” of illness and use of chemicals; personalized prevention became common.
18th & 19th Century: Germ Theory and Public Health
- Miasma theory remained popular until challenged by Pasteur (germ theory) and Koch (microbes cause disease).
- Vaccinations advanced (Jenner, Pasteur); Public Health Act 1875 enforced sanitation, clean water, and food safety.
- Surgery improved with anesthesia (chloroform, ether) and antiseptics (Lister’s carbolic acid), making complex operations safer.
- Florence Nightingale revolutionized nursing, hospital design, and hygiene.
Medicine in Modern Britain
- Discovery of DNA’s structure (Watson & Crick) enabled genetic medicine and targeted therapies.
- Lifestyle choices (smoking, alcohol, diet, drugs, UV exposure) recognized as health risks; led to public health campaigns and legislation.
- Diagnostic technologies advanced: blood tests, x-rays, MRI, CT, ultrasound, ECG.
- Mass vaccination programs and lifestyle campaigns (Change4Life, Better Health) implemented by the government.
20th–21st Century Treatments and NHS
- “Magic Bullets” (Salvarsan) and antibiotics (penicillin) targeted bacteria; mass production and drug trials became standard.
- High-tech treatments: chemotherapy, dialysis, gene therapy, radiotherapy, keyhole and robotic surgery, organ transplants.
- NHS (founded 1948) provided universal healthcare, reducing inequalities and improving life expectancy.
- Antibiotic resistance remains a challenge.
Western Front: WWI Medicine
- Trench conditions led to diseases (trench foot/fever, shell shock) and high infection rates from wounds.
- Care chain: Regimental Aid Post, Dressing Station, Casualty Clearing Station, Base Hospital, using stretchers, ambulances, and trains.
- Innovative treatments included antiseptics, Thomas splint, mobile x-rays, blood transfusions, plastic/brain surgery.
- Sources for study include official records, newspapers, personal accounts, photographs, and statistics.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Four Humors — Ancient theory that health depends on balance of blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile.
- Miasma Theory — Belief that disease is caused by “bad air.”
- Germ Theory — Idea that microorganisms cause disease.
- Antiseptic — Substances used to kill germs and prevent infection during surgery.
- NHS — National Health Service, providing free healthcare in Britain since 1948.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review textbook sections on the Black Death, Medical Renaissance, Germ Theory, NHS, and WWI medicine.
- Complete associated practice questions and flashcards.
- Download and study associated master class notes as indicated in the lecture.