Medicine: The Road Through History
Check out the resources below to help you explore how the medicine has changed through history.
1600s
In the 1600s, Europeans were beginning to colonize America. What is now known as the United States was being colonized on the east coast by the British. When the British came to America, they brought many diseases and illnesses that were new to the area, like smallpox and measles. This had a major impact on the Native Americans who had never been exposed to the diseases.
Slaves that were brought to America from Africa were also impacted by disease, especially yellow fever and malaria. The fact that they were worked very hard and not given proper nutrition did not help.
Diseases were worse in cities than in rural areas because of how closely together people lived.
At the time, they had doctors and apothecary. Read more about them here.
In the 1600s, Europeans were beginning to colonize America. What is now known as the United States was being colonized on the east coast by the British. When the British came to America, they brought many diseases and illnesses that were new to the area, like smallpox and measles. This had a major impact on the Native Americans who had never been exposed to the diseases.
Slaves that were brought to America from Africa were also impacted by disease, especially yellow fever and malaria. The fact that they were worked very hard and not given proper nutrition did not help.
Diseases were worse in cities than in rural areas because of how closely together people lived.
At the time, they had doctors and apothecary. Read more about them here.
1700s
In colonial times, people worked very hard. Nutrition was also not the best because fruits and vegetables were not available as much as they are today. There was not a system for plumbing and people did not wash their hands frequently, so conditions were not very sanitary. People died at younger ages than today.
Doctors also did not know very much about how the body worked. They did not really go to school to be doctors, but would learn by being apprentices to other doctors. They thought that illnesses came from the body being out of balance, so they would do things like blood-letting using leeches and making people vomit to try to put the body back in balance. It was also common for people to treat themselves using herbs from their gardens. This website gives more information about medicine in the 1700s.
The American Revolution also happened in the 1700s. Injuries and illnesses were very dangerous during this time. This website talks about why.
In colonial times, people worked very hard. Nutrition was also not the best because fruits and vegetables were not available as much as they are today. There was not a system for plumbing and people did not wash their hands frequently, so conditions were not very sanitary. People died at younger ages than today.
Doctors also did not know very much about how the body worked. They did not really go to school to be doctors, but would learn by being apprentices to other doctors. They thought that illnesses came from the body being out of balance, so they would do things like blood-letting using leeches and making people vomit to try to put the body back in balance. It was also common for people to treat themselves using herbs from their gardens. This website gives more information about medicine in the 1700s.
The American Revolution also happened in the 1700s. Injuries and illnesses were very dangerous during this time. This website talks about why.
1800s
Although a lot of medicine in the 1800s was still based on theory and not scientifically sound, some advancements were made. This website has a timeline of medical advancements in the 1800s.
The Civil War was a very important event during the 1800s. In the first parts of the war, medical conditions were terrible. Hospitals were set up in barns and tents, and they quickly became dirty and spread diseases. Doctors did not know much about being sanitary, so they did not wash their hands or their tools, even after performing surgeries. Antibiotics had not yet been discovered, so if arms, legs, and other body parts got infections from being injured, the doctors would amputate.
620,000 soldiers died during The Civil War, but 400,000 of those deaths were due to illness. The camps were very dirty. They did not have toilets or plumbing like we have today, so waste was common. Throughout the war, the soldiers did start to realize that if they cleaned up their waste, cleaned up the camp, and washed their hands before eating, diseases did not spread as quickly. Even so, many soldiers got sick, and died, from things such as diarrhea and tuberculosis.
Because of the number of injuries and casualties during the Civil War, the soldiers realized the need for being able to quickly and efficiently move people off the battleground. This led to the creation of The Ambulance Corps. They made stretchers that were used to carry injured soldiers to wagons to be transported more quickly to hospitals.
Women were also allowed to serve as nurses during The Civil War. Clara Barton was a very important nurse during the time, and she went on to found The American Red Cross. There was even a female doctor named Mary Walker! She was the only woman doctor to serve during The Civil War!
Despite the bad conditions and the little knowledge, there were advancements that helped save many lives. One was amputations. This prevented disease from spreading through the body, and surprising, about 75% of people survived the amputation surgery. Some of the first plastic surgeries were also performed during The Civil War. More information about these advancements, as well as more examples, can be found here.
By the end of the war, hospitals were more open and allowed more fresh air to flow. They also started separating patients into section based on their illnesses and injuries. Also towards the end of the war, hospitals were running low on money and supplies. They started having to reuse bandages. Before reusing them, they would wash the bandages in hot water and soap. Doctors and nurses noticed that the ones that were washed in hot water did not get infections as often. This started to lead to the first ideas about sanitation and spread of germs.
Although a lot of medicine in the 1800s was still based on theory and not scientifically sound, some advancements were made. This website has a timeline of medical advancements in the 1800s.
The Civil War was a very important event during the 1800s. In the first parts of the war, medical conditions were terrible. Hospitals were set up in barns and tents, and they quickly became dirty and spread diseases. Doctors did not know much about being sanitary, so they did not wash their hands or their tools, even after performing surgeries. Antibiotics had not yet been discovered, so if arms, legs, and other body parts got infections from being injured, the doctors would amputate.
620,000 soldiers died during The Civil War, but 400,000 of those deaths were due to illness. The camps were very dirty. They did not have toilets or plumbing like we have today, so waste was common. Throughout the war, the soldiers did start to realize that if they cleaned up their waste, cleaned up the camp, and washed their hands before eating, diseases did not spread as quickly. Even so, many soldiers got sick, and died, from things such as diarrhea and tuberculosis.
Because of the number of injuries and casualties during the Civil War, the soldiers realized the need for being able to quickly and efficiently move people off the battleground. This led to the creation of The Ambulance Corps. They made stretchers that were used to carry injured soldiers to wagons to be transported more quickly to hospitals.
Women were also allowed to serve as nurses during The Civil War. Clara Barton was a very important nurse during the time, and she went on to found The American Red Cross. There was even a female doctor named Mary Walker! She was the only woman doctor to serve during The Civil War!
Despite the bad conditions and the little knowledge, there were advancements that helped save many lives. One was amputations. This prevented disease from spreading through the body, and surprising, about 75% of people survived the amputation surgery. Some of the first plastic surgeries were also performed during The Civil War. More information about these advancements, as well as more examples, can be found here.
By the end of the war, hospitals were more open and allowed more fresh air to flow. They also started separating patients into section based on their illnesses and injuries. Also towards the end of the war, hospitals were running low on money and supplies. They started having to reuse bandages. Before reusing them, they would wash the bandages in hot water and soap. Doctors and nurses noticed that the ones that were washed in hot water did not get infections as often. This started to lead to the first ideas about sanitation and spread of germs.
1900s
Major Events Related to Medicine
Check out these resources to learn more about major events that impacted medicine.
Check out these resources to learn more about major events that impacted medicine.