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Public Health and Medical Practices

Page history last edited by PBworks 16 years ago

Public Health and Medical Practices

 

By: Megha Nadig and Stephanie Casolino

 

 

 

 

          Public health in the Victorian era in general was incredibly primitave. We have come   

a long way from that time in our medical technology. Back then, There was no real scientific

concept of which the common person or even doctors understand of why people would get

ill. Many times people would not die from the illness but from the treatment given for the

illness. Also, many of the treatments given for different illnesses would not help the sickly

in any kind of way.

 

          Disease was very common in the Victorian era because of unsanitary conditions

which include unwashed or reused cups, dirty bed sheets in houses and over-night

lodging and not bathing too often. Work house condition were very poor also and only

in 1834 did infirmaries start to appear in work houses.

 

          For the sick, it was thought that bathing removed protective oils from a persons'

skin. When a person was ill, sunlight and fresh air were not let in the room. They were

also not allowed to get out of bed for exercise; which we now know leads to a faster

recovery. Not everyone turned to doctors to help. Only the wealthy could afford doctors

and were associated with medical practices.

 

 

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THE GERM THEORY

 

          Many people in the Victorian age could not grasp the concept of germs (which they

could not see) causing diseases. People who did believed in this theory would boil and scrub

instruments before using them. The germ theory became obsolete when microscopes were

invented to identify the bacteria which caused certain diseases in the era.

 

          When doctors finally accepted the germ theory, they would lessen the risk of

infection spraying the room with carbolic vapor (an acid) and the surgeon sterilizing the

equipment and washing his own hands more frequently. 

 

 

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THE MIASMA THEORY

 

          The miasma theory is a theory in which people get sick from inhaling foul odors.

It was believed that one could get internal diseases; although now we know that inhaling

bacteria may cause sickness rather than just a foul odor.

 

 

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CHILDBIRTH

 

          There was no anesthesia for the process of childbirth until 1847 which was first

administered by James Simpson. Before this time, bleeding was commonly done to relieve

pain. Up to 50 ounces of blood was taken from the body and as a result, would weaken it.

There were many deaths of women from child birth which were between the ages of 15

and 35 and  fifteen percent of babies would not live until their first birthday and if the

mother or baby died during the childbirth process in the Victorian Era, they would be

donated to a local medical school for dissection.  Because of the lack of knowledge in

medicine, fifteen percent of children were deformed in the legs or pelvis due to a difficult

childbirth.

 

          During childbirth, the women would lay in the Sims position which is laying  on the

left side of her body with her legs towards her chest. The reason for this was because in

this position, was that the doctor and women would not see face-to-face saving the

women from embarrassing situations.

 

          Average recovery time from child birth was four to six months which is by far more

compared to couple of days new mothers are released from the hospital today. 

 

 

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PAIN KILLERS

 

          Pain killers were very different in the Victorian era. Laudanum which is an alcoholic

extract of opium. This was used as a pain killer for tooth aches, headaches and tuberculosis.

Laudanum was used as a pain killer for tuberculosis because it was cheaper than gin.

Chloroform was also used to relieve pain and put patients to sleep during operations.

Chlorodine was used to reduce pain in the stomach and for stomach problems. 50 drops of

the chlorodine was usually the prescribed amount. Opium mixed with a little gin was used

to calm down restless babies. Brandy and wine was served to the sick and also before

operations to relieve pain during the procedure.

 

 

 

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COMMON ILLNESSES IN THE VICTORIAN ERA

 

DIPHTHERIA

 

         Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that affects mainly the nose and throat. It is very

contagious and affects children under 5 and adults above the age of 60. Unclean conditions

a re usually where many people contract this infection but also those who are malnourished

are at risk. The bacteria that caused the infection would block the nose throat or airway and

lead to breathing and swallowing problems. 

 

TYPHUS

 

         Typhus is also caused by bacteria. It occurs when a human is on contact with an

infected insect. Typhus is carried by fleas which feed on the human. The flea decafitates

as it feeds and the feeding spot becomes itchy. When the person scratches the itchy spot,

it becomes infected with the feces of the flea. In the Victorian time period it was thought that

wine would cure typhus.

 

MEASLES

 

         Measles is a highly contagious respiratory infection. Although it is rare now, it was very

common during the Victorian Era. Measles is caused my a virus which has flu-like symptoms

such as fever, cough and runny nose. 

 

CHOLERA

 

         Cholera is an infection of the intestine. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and leg

cramps. Diarrhea causes dehydration and shock which lead to deaths within hours. A

person may get cholera by drinking contaminated water or food. The bacteria that causes

cholera may live in rivers and coastal waters. Cholera caused fourteen thousand deaths

in London, 1849

 

MUMPS

 

         Mumps is a very contagious disease caused by a virus. Mumps spreads through saliva.

When a person gets mumps, the salivary glands usually swell up and hurt a lot.

 

BRONCHITIS

 

         Bronchitis is an upper respiratory infection. It can occur when you inhale fumes,

tobacco smoke, chemical solvents or dust which irritate the lungs. Elderly people and very

young children at greater risk for bronchitis. Also those with weakened immune systems

and those who smoke are at greater risk.

 

SCARLET FEVER

 

         Scarlet fever is caused by a bacteria called streptococcus. It is a toxin which gives you

a scarlet colored rash if infected. Symptoms include those of strep throat because it comes

from the same kind of bacteria. Only those who are sensitive to the toxin develop a rash.

Children suffered from scarlet fever the most.

 

WHOOPING COUGH

 

         Whooping cough is an infection in the respiratory system. It is severe coughing with a

"whooping" sound when the person inhales. If affects mainly children under six months

who haven't developed their immunizations and kids eleven to eight-teen who have weak

immune systems. Sometimes doctors would treat whooping cough by allowing leeches to

drain blood from the throat.

 

POLIOMYELITIS also known as POLIO

 

         Polio is an incredibly contagious sickness which spreads by not washing hands. This

virus is found in stool and contaminated water. Polio pretty much wiped out the whole

western hemisphere it is a viral illness which in ninety-five percent of the time doesn't

reduce symptoms. There are three types of polio; abortive polio which produces mild flu-like

symptoms, nonparalytic polio which produces symptoms such as sensitivity to light and

neck stiffness and paralytic polio which is severe and debilitating. Paralytic polio causes

muscle paralysis and can result in death; this type of polio enters the bloodstream and

effects the nerves causing respiratory difficulty and paralysis. 

 

MALNUTRITION

 

         Malnutrition and hunger aren't the same thing. Someone can be malnourished for any

length of time. This is a person who does not have the proper nutrients for their health

and development. People who are malnourished are at greater risk of getting sick and may

even die from it. Hunger can lead to malnutrition over a long period of time. Malnutrition

affects all ages although teens and children may suffer the most because many nutrients

are needed for teen growth and development. Malnutrition affects the body and the mind.

Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness,scaly skin, bleeding gums, rotting teeth, slowed reaction,

underweight, poor growth, muscle weakness, bloated stomach, osteoporosis and problems

with organ function. Malnutrition mostly occurred in inhumane working conditions.

 

 

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COMMON TREATMENTS IN THE VICTORIAN ERA

 

BLEEDING also known as PHLEBOTOMY

 

          Bleeding was usually the first treatment method used on a sick patient. Bleeding

supposedly released the "bad blood" from the body. Patients were cut with lancets and

then leeches were used to suck the blood from the body. Patients were often bleed until

they fainted. 

 

BLISTERING

 

          Blistering was a widely used and popular treatment although its was not affective

at all. It was believed that the body could only have one illness at a time and that blistering

the skin with hot pokers or acid would burn out the illness.

 

 

PURGING

 

          Purging was a form of treatment where the patient would take laxatives to expel

"poisons" from the body. Diarrhea was thought to relax the body and puking would relax

the arteries.

 

PLASTERING

 

          Plastering was a form of treatment usually for colds or internal pain. A plethora of

ingredients were used to make a plastery substance and applied to the body; usually

the back or the chest. 

 

AMPUTATION

 

          Amputation was the most common surgery performed. Surgery was fatal because

the equipment used was not clean or sterilized.  

 

 

 

          There were many illnesses in the Victorian era. Many of them were due to unsanitary

conditions in which bacteria thrive. Life expectancy was only about forty years old. In this

time period, many people including doctors knew what was making them sick. There were

a selective few who accepted the germ theory and made adjustments to their practices

Such as sterilizing equipment but the majority of the population was clueless. If people then

had taken the time to take proper showers more often and keep houses and streets clean,

it would have been likely that disease would not have been the cause of the majority of deaths. 

 

 

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Works Consulted

 

 

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"Cholera." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 6 Oct. 2005. Dept. of Human Health and Services. 24 Feb. 2008 <http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/cholera_g.htm>.
 
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Hirsch, Larissa. "Hunger and Malnutrition." Kids Health. Jan. 2007. 27 Feb. 2008 <http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutrition/hunger.html>.
 
Klein, Joel. "Scarlet Fever." Kids Health. Mar. 2006. 25 Feb. 2008 <http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/scarlet_fever.html>.
 
Krauss, Desiree. "Medical Madness: Practices of the Victorian Era." Morbid Outlook. 1 Mar. 2008 <http://www.morbidoutlook.com/nonfiction/articles/2004_06_medical.html>.
 
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