Question 1: Describe the main features of the 'miasma theory' and explain how it influenced medical practices in the early 19th century.

Answer: The miasma theory suggested that diseases were caused by 'bad air' or miasmas from decaying matter. It led to practices like cleaning streets and improving sanitation to prevent illness.

Question 2: Identify two key figures who contributed to the development of anesthesia and briefly explain their contributions.

Answer: James Simpson discovered the anesthetic properties of chloroform, making surgery less painful. John Snow researched how cholera spread, which helped improve sanitation and prevent disease.

Question 3: Explain how the development of the germ theory in the late 19th century changed medical understanding and treatment of disease.

Answer: The germ theory proved that microorganisms cause disease, leading to better sanitation, sterilization, and the development of vaccines, which greatly improved health outcomes.

Question 4: List three methods used in 19th-century Britain to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Answer: Improving sanitation, quarantine measures, and vaccination programs.

Question 5: Describe the significance of Florence Nightingale's work during the Crimean War and how it impacted hospital hygiene.

Answer: Nightingale emphasized cleanliness, proper sanitation, and hygiene in hospitals, which drastically reduced infection and death rates, setting new standards for nursing.

Question 6: Draw a simple diagram of a Victorian hospital ward showing the key features that Nightingale would have emphasized for hygiene. Label the main features.

Answer: A correct sketch would include features such as clean bedding, proper ventilation, handwashing stations, and organized patient beds, with labels highlighting these aspects.

Question 7: What were some limitations of 19th-century medicine despite the innovations in this period?

Answer: Limited understanding of microbes initially, resistance to change among some doctors, and the slow development of effective vaccines and treatments for many diseases.

Question 8: Explain how public health reforms in the late 19th century, such as the Public Health Act of 1875, helped improve health in cities.

Answer: The Public Health Act introduced sanitation regulations, improved sewer systems, and restricted pollution, leading to cleaner living environments and reduced disease.

Question 9: Identify and explain the importance of two technological innovations that advanced medicine in the 19th century.

Answer: The stethoscope allowed doctors to listen to the heart and lungs, improving diagnosis. Anesthesia made surgery less painful, enabling more complex procedures.

Question 10: Summarize how societal attitudes towards medicine and public health changed during the 19th century.

Answer: There was increased trust in scientific methods, greater government involvement in public health, and a shift from traditional remedies to evidence-based medicine.