Medicine in the 19th century lacked modern advancements like anesthesia, antibiotics, and sanitary practices. Surgery was extremely dangerous due to lack of pain management. Home remedies and herbal treatments were common. Diseases like cholera, tuberculosis, and influenza spread rapidly due to poor sanitation and lack of germ theory. Bloodletting and opium derivatives were the most common medical treatments. Women had no role in medicine and scientific research was still developing.

1. Medicine in New England Renaissance By Ashley Nedley 5/3/11

2. Inventions ANESTHESIA Vaccination Stethescope SURGERY

3. INVENTIONS - ANESTHESIA William Morton - October 16th, 1846 Purposeful Sleeping No Pain Ether mixed with other odors Letheon * This form of anesthesia was less effective than the anesthesia used today*

4. Inventions - surgery Before anesthesia -painful and hard to perform Punching and unconsciousness Opium and alcohol Effects would cause death rather than a cure *surgery was more dangerous due to no ways to take precautionary measures to protect patients and surgeons*

5. Inventions - vaccines Edward Jenner Exposure to the disease first Immunity injections

6. Developments - surgery - No Sanitation - No Protection - Open Spaces No Gowns or Gloves Kitchen Tables or in a bedroom Surgical tools were not sanitized or cleaned between surgeries No such thing as “precautionary measures”

7. Developments – home remedies Home made “cures” Cutting or Draining blood from the body Different teas and types of milk Lavender and chamomile Rituals stews * MANY HOME REMEDIES ARE STILL USED TODAY BUT MAY BE CONSIDERED “OUT THERE” OR INSANE*

8. DEVELOPMENTS – DISiNFECTING SURGICAL TOOLS Disinfecting surgical tools was presented as a proposal in 1850 but was not accepted as a development until the mid-1860s

9. Developments – preventative medicine Vaccines - horrible pain - dangerous Medicines - equal to the definition of allergy medications or neurological medications * These measures were highly dangerous due to the exposure to diseases and how painful the vaccinations were*

10. Developments – alternative medicine Medieval tactics Home remedies Cutting and draining blood from the body Other forms of treatment - household items Breaking bones *Very dangerous* *cutting/bleeding usually lead to death* * Broken bones led to disease/death*

11. Role of Women in Medicine

12. THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS WOMEN IN MEDICINE!!!!! Good for making babies and being a wife to their husbands

13. Scientific Research - anatomical Physicals - checking for signs of disease - “neurological” exams

14. Scientific research – preventative medicine Vaccines - exposure - immunity Cures/ medical preventatives - home remedies - tonics

15. Scientific research – Clinical Studies

16. Scientific research – postmortem findings Autopsy Study of organs after death Dangerous – no protection Bodies sold on the black market Grave robbing for money Used as a business

18. these sores will be painless but very irritating

20. Diseases - cholera Caused by poor sanitation of water and facilities Large intestine infection Symptoms: - watery diarrhea - cramps - excess thirst - vomiting * Picture shows poor sanitation in a 19th century “hospital”*

21. Diseases - influenza Common flu Many die due to lack of treatment Many were placed in a room (to the left) and were left to either die or let the symptoms dissipate

22. DISEASES - MALARIA Spread by mosquitoes Symptoms: - HIGH FEVERS - ANEMIA - SHAKING CHILLS - FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS * TODAY MALARIA IS NOT CONTAGIOUS OR LIFE THREATENING (IF TREATED PROPERLY) BUT IN THE 19TH CENTURY THE DISEASE KILLED MANY*

23. DISEASES – FOOD POISONING[ MOST COMMON ] Most common disease in the 19th century Poor sanitation No way to preserve food e.Coli

24. Diseases – smallpox Serious contagious disease Causes a rash on the skin Other symptoms may include vomiting - aches - fever - shakes In the 19th century, smallpox was the #1 killing disease

25. Treatments Cutting veins – Fever Dover’s Powder Opium and I Pecae Treated: pain and induced sweating Black Drops Opium in vinegar Laudanam Opium, alcohol, sugar Dragon’s Blood Red pain resin Treat impressions in the blood

26. Treatments calomel Juniper berries opium Carbonate of magnesia

27. Treatments DRAGON’S BLOOD DOVER’S POWDER LAUDANAM BLACK DROPS

29. Soap

30. Castor Oil

31. Carbonate (milk) of Magnesia

32. Opium

33. Iobelia

34. Juniper Berries

35. Tree Bark

36. Chili Peppers

37. Garlic

38. Calomel

39. HypnotismALL OF THESE WERE TRIED TO CURE SEVERAL DISEASES BUT NONE PREVAILED

40. Works Cited "Doctors and Diseases on the Oregon Trail." Historic Oregon City. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. <http://www.historicoregoncity.org/HOC/index.php/end-of- the-oregon-trail-history/oregon-trail-history/104-doctorsdiseases>. "Modern Medicine in the 19th Century." Canadian Online Pharmacy | Canada Pharmacy | Prescription Drugs Online | Mail Order Rx Drug Store. Web. 25 April 2011. <http://www.buylowdrugs.com/pharmacy- articles/Modern-Medicine-in-the-19th-Century.php>. "Overview: Medicine 1800-1899 Summary | BookRags.com." BookRags.com | Study Guides, Lesson Plans, Book Summaries and More. Web. 25 April 2011. http://www.bookrags.com/research/overview- medicine-1800-1899-scit-051234/>. "What Was The State of Medicine in the 1800s?" Nova Scotia Museum. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. <http://museum.gov.ns.ca/sv/history/medicine/_1_4.html>. "19th Century Medicine." A Short History of Medical Careers. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. <http://library.thinkquest.org/15569/hist-9.html>.