Medicine in Modern Britain (Edexcel GCSE History: The Thematic & Historic Environment (Paper 1))

Doctors encouraged the use of sweet-smelling herbs, like lavender, to be used to prevent miasma.

Doctors continued to encourage a healthy lifestyle to prevent illness.

Doctors encouraged people to drink alcohol as water contained germs which caused diseases like cholera.

Doctors continued to use science to help prevent illnesses, such as the Human Genome Project.

Pain and infection were an issue throughout the industrial period, unlike the use of aseptic surgery and anaesthetics in modern medicine.

Technological advancements in the industrial period were very limited. X-rays were not used until the modern period.

Organ transplants were not readily available in the industrial period. Microsurgery was not available until the late 20th century.

Surgery was not performed by surgeons in the industrial period. Surgeons would read from a textbook whilst someone else performed the surgery. In the modern period, surgeons performed their surgery.

The development of penicillin into a mass-produced drug inspired scientists to research new antibiotics.

They discovered penicillin, which was a new antibiotic which could kill Staphylococcus.

They tested penicillin on mice, which was the first time animals were used to test drugs.

Their discovery of penicillin went on to save approximately 80% of soldiers from their injuries during the Second World War.

GPs were educated with the latest techniques and knowledge which provided patients with the best care.

New hospitals were built in every city and filled with the latest technology, providing patients with the best care.

Everyone in Britain had access to treatment for free at the point of access. Previously, patients had to pay for treatment which many could not afford.

Waiting times decreased in Britain as there were more doctors and hospitals available to the public.

There was a public outcry for government intervention.

The government took advice from independent charities such as Cancer UK.

The government wanted to fight the tobacco industry to reduce the number of deaths associated with smoking in the UK.

Deaths linked to smoking cost the NHS £165 million.

It discovered that DNA has a double-helix structure.

It helped doctors to understand the causes of diseases better, as the project helped doctors to understand what combinations of DNA cause some diseases.

It helped doctors to understand the consequences of diseases on the human body, as it mapped how DNA changed due to certain diseases.

It discovered DNA. The project took an X-ray image of DNA which helped Franklin and Maurice learn more about human biology.

The ‘magic bullets’ available at the time were resistant to Staphylococcus. Penicillin could treat infections which contain Staphylococcus, such as blood poisoning.

Fleming discovered penicillin which became the first ‘magic bullet’. This helped to inspire other ‘magic bullets’ to cure diseases.

Fleming’s discovery of penicillin helped to prove Germ Theory correct. His discovery led to the acceptance of Germ Theory in Britain.

Fleming’s discovery of penicillin resulted in the creation of a ‘magic bullet’ which helped to cure infections gained by soldiers in the First World War.

The government continued to uphold their beliefs of miasma by cleaning the streets of waste.

The government continued to allow the public to be responsible for their own health. They instructed the local government to appoint health officers to manage local health issues.

The government continued to use technology to advertise and educate the public on healthy living campaigns, such as Stopober and Change4Life.

The government continued to introduce laws which protected and improved the public’s health such as the Clean Act Acts of 1956 and 1968.

The British government started to target other diseases through vaccination. Teenagers were given vaccinations for diphtheria, polio and HPV as vaccinations worked better on teenagers than children.

The British government started to target other diseases through vaccination. Adults were given vaccinations for diphtheria, polio and HPV as vaccinations worked better on adults than children.

The British government started to target other diseases through vaccination. Children were given vaccinations for diphtheria, polio and HPV as vaccinations worked better on children than adults.

The British government started to target other diseases through vaccination. Pregnant mothers were given vaccinations for diphtheria, polio and HPV as vaccinations worked better on pregnant mothers than children.

The anti-smoking laws were important. They helped to reduce children’s exposure to second-hand smoke by only 40%.

The anti-smoking laws were very important. They helped to reduce children’s exposure to second-hand smoke by almost 70%.

The anti-smoking laws were not very important. They helped to reduce children’s exposure to second-hand smoke by only 10%.

The anti-smoking laws were very important. They helped to reduce children’s exposure to second-hand smoke by almost 90%.