Science and Medicine in the Industrial Revolution

Science and Medicine in the Industrial Revolution

By: Grace, Elizabeth, Emily, and Amelia

Atomic Theory

VIDEO

Pros and Cons

Background

• Pros
• Set the basis for the modern atomic theory
• Established the basic structure of an atom
• Cons
• Wasn't completely correct
• He said atoms are indivisible but atoms can be changed from one to another

• Discovered by John Dalton in the early 1800s
• Showed that each element has its own kind of atoms
• Also showed how different kinds of atoms combine to make all chemical substances

Dalton's Model

Impacts

• Crucial breakthrough in chemistry
• Challenged ancient Greek beliefs (believed that all matter was made of tiny particles called atoms)
• Also challenged earlier theories which put forth the idea that all atoms were basically alike

Surgery & Anesthesia

Pros and Cons

Citation for Textbook

Background

PRO:Found new ways to save lives.

New advancement in medicine.

• In the early 1840's, anesthesia was used to relieve pain during surgery.
• Used anesthesia to explore operations.
• Some feared side-effects from the new anesthetic, and an overdose could kill.
• Before anesthesia, doctors had to preform surgeries within a short amount of time, but now they doctors could operate within a broader time frame.

CON: Lack of sanitation of tools killed patients via infection days after operation.

Ellis, Elisabeth Gaynor, and Anthony Esler. <i>Prentice Hall World History</i>. Boston, Mass.: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. Print.

Impact

• Population size increased.
• More people were surviving
• Created a baseline of our advanced medical systems/inventions today.

Natural Selection

Background

• Discovered by Charles Darwin
• Darwin published "On the Origin of Species" in 1859
• all beings evolved to present state over millions of years (theory of evolution)
• Used theory of evolution to support natural selection
• species constantly competed to survive
• Natural forces (environment) selected traits best suited for their environment
• those species passed traits on to offspring, other traits were slowly eliminated
• process of natural selection known as survival of the fittest

Impact

Antiseptics

Social Darwinism

• people who applied Survival of the fittest to war and economy
• believed that they were more "fit" to survive in the economy than others

Racism

• encouraged by Social Darwinism
• belief that certain races were superior to others
• The Caucasian race believed success in western nations was due to superiority of their race

Pros and Cons

PROS

• foundation for different scientific studies
• molecular biology
• mutations
• classification of species

Impact

Pro

• Prevented patients from dying via infection
• Sanitation and sterilization of surgical equipment
• Took a step towards modern medicine

Con

• Antiseptics cost money

CONS

• Social Darwinism and Racism

• Life spans increased.
• Less people dying from infection
• Less unsterilized equipment

Background

• Discovered by Joseph Lister in August 1865
• He had his surgeons sterilize their instruments and wash their hands.
• Antiseptics got rid of dirt and bacteria that could lead to dangerous infections.
• this dramatically reduce deaths from infection.