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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