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Progress in the mid-19th century: Nightingale, Chadwick, Snow and Simpson
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In the mid-1800s, four people made important progress in nursing, surgery and public health.
Florence Nightingale
In the Crimean War Nightingale led nurses at the army hospital at Scutari (1854 to 56).
She improved cleanliness, food and ventilation, and the death rate fell sharply.
She later set up a nursing school at St Thomas' Hospital (1860) and made nursing a respected profession.
She improved cleanliness, food and ventilation, and the death rate fell sharply.
She later set up a nursing school at St Thomas' Hospital (1860) and made nursing a respected profession.
Simpson and chloroform
In 1847 James Simpson discovered that chloroform worked as an anaesthetic.
It made surgery painless, but at first deaths from infection and bleeding rose as surgeons attempted longer operations. Some people opposed it.
Its use by Queen Victoria in childbirth (1853) made it more accepted.
It made surgery painless, but at first deaths from infection and bleeding rose as surgeons attempted longer operations. Some people opposed it.
Its use by Queen Victoria in childbirth (1853) made it more accepted.
Chadwick and Snow
Edwin Chadwick's report (1842) linked poor living conditions to disease.
The Public Health Act (1848) let towns set up boards of health, but it was not compulsory.
In 1854 John Snow mapped cholera deaths around the Broad Street pump in London. Removing the pump handle stopped the outbreak, showing cholera spread through water.
The Public Health Act (1848) let towns set up boards of health, but it was not compulsory.
In 1854 John Snow mapped cholera deaths around the Broad Street pump in London. Removing the pump handle stopped the outbreak, showing cholera spread through water.
Why was the Public Health Act of 1848 limited?
- It allowed towns to set up boards of health.
- But it was not compulsory.
- So many towns did nothing because of the cost.
Answer: It was voluntary, so many towns did not act.
Nightingale cut deaths at Scutari and professionalised nursing. Simpson's chloroform (1847) made surgery painless. Chadwick linked dirt to disease; the 1848 Public Health Act was voluntary. Snow (1854) proved cholera spread through water at the Broad Street pump.
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