EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
The Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution undoubtedly ignited an interest in medicine and the experimental method. In the middle of the eighteenth century advancements started occurring more rapidly and the search for a simple way of healing the sick was becoming more popular among physicians.
Transportation also became more common with new technology, which spread new forms of diseases among populations, but also spread new ideas about treatment. Hospitals were improving in most countries in Europe. For the first time, the poor were allowed medical services which previously had only been available for the wealthy. In London dispensaries were introduced to distribute drugs to victims of contagious diseases. With the improvement of medical services England's mortality rate greatly decreased. |
Common Diseases |
-Symptoms included: high fever, intense skin rash, fatigue, and headaches -Survivors often went blind and were left with disfiguring scars -Appeared suddenly as red speckles, then progressed -Infants and babies were very susceptible
-common among dairymaids -Infection starts with cows that have ulcers on its udders -Being in contact with the ulcer spreads infection
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Treatments |
In the 1700s, treatments improved because of keen observation, research and the experimental method. The eighteenth century is when treatments and vaccines really started being applied to improving peoples' lives.
Medical Breakthroughs
Jenner conducted an experiment between a dairymaid who had lesions on her had from being infected by cowpox and a young boy who had never had cow pox. He took matter from the lesions and injected that into the boy. The following few days the boy felt discomfort, but then after a weak he was fine. A few months later, Jenner conducted the last part of the experiment. He took fresh matter from a smallpox lesion and injected that the same boy. Remarkably, the boy was completely fine and immune to smallpox. Jenner's discovery soon spread and decreased the amount of deaths due to smallpox.
Prior to the eighteenth century childbirth and midwifery were traditional and had not really been explored scientifically. William Smellie wrote Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery, which changed how obstetrics was performed. His book contained the first systematic discussion about safe practices when delivering babies, which helped save many lives and educated many physicians. |