Medicine Through Time - Prevention

Thomas Sydenham

Respected 17th-century doctor in London.

The English Hippocrates

Nickname for Thomas Sydenham due to his influence.

Theory of the Four Humours

Medical theory explaining illness through bodily fluids.

Galen and Hippocrates

Ancient physicians whose ideas Sydenham challenged.

Symptom observation

Method of diagnosing illness by closely watching symptoms.

Medieval treatment methods

Focused on treating individual symptoms separately.

Disease classification

Sydenham's idea to group diseases like plants/animals.

Personalized disease factors

Individual factors affecting disease according to the Four Humours.

Modern medical approach

Sydenham's influence on scientific medicine from the 18th century.

Measles and scarlet fever

Diseases identified as separate by Sydenham.

Cinchona bark

Treatment for malaria popularized by Sydenham.

Quinine

Active compound in cinchona used for treating malaria.

Sweating method

Outdated smallpox treatment replaced by Sydenham's methods.

Airy bedrooms

Sydenham's recommendation for smallpox treatment.

Light blankets

Part of Sydenham's smallpox treatment regimen.

Cold drinks

Prescribed by Sydenham for smallpox recovery.

Detailed symptom descriptions

Encouraged by Sydenham for effective diagnosis.

Scientific foundation

Sydenham's work laid groundwork for modern medicine.

Patient nature

Sydenham believed it had little impact on disease.

Observational medicine

Sydenham's approach emphasizing direct patient observation.

Controversial ideas

Sydenham's views challenged established medical beliefs.

Church's Role

Belief in sin-free life prevents disease.

Regular Prayers

Practices to ensure forgiveness of minor sins.

Diet Importance

Food intake affects humours and health.

Overeating Consequences

Excessive food linked to kings' deaths.

Purging Practices

Vomiting or laxatives used to prevent disease.

Miasma Theory

Belief that bad air causes disease.

Air Purification

Sweet herbs spread to cleanse the air.

Pomade

Jewelry containing herbs to ward off miasma.

Regimen Sanitatis

Set of health instructions from physicians.

Moderate Exercise

Recommended to maintain good health.

Sleep Guidelines

Adequate sleep is essential, but not excessive.

Stress Avoidance

Reducing stress prevents disease.

Bathing Significance

Cleanliness believed to prevent miasma.

Public Baths

Affordable bathing options for the poor.

Hand Washing

Common practice before and after meals.

Home Cleanliness

Keeping homes fresh to avoid miasma.

Renaissance Moderation

Practicing moderation to avoid diseases.

Constitution at Birth

Birth condition linked to adult health.

Street Cleaning Laws

Fines imposed for unclean streets.

Sewage Removal

Punishment for minor criminals included cleaning.

Local Government Actions

Measures taken to improve public health.

Miasma Removal Projects

Efforts to drain swamps and clean streets.

Inoculation

Deliberate infection to prevent severe disease later.

Smallpox

A deadly disease causing widespread epidemics in Britain.

Lady Mary Montagu

Introduced inoculation to the UK from Turkey.

Edward Jenner

Pioneer of vaccination against smallpox.

Vaccination

Inoculation with cowpox to prevent smallpox.

Cowpox

Mild disease protecting against smallpox infection.

James Phipps

First person vaccinated by Edward Jenner.

Jenner’s publication about smallpox vaccination

An Enquiry into the Causes and Effects of the Variola Vaccinae

Royal Society - Jenner

Refused to publish Jenner's work due to lack of proof.

Anti-Jenner propaganda

Negative media against vaccination efforts.

World Health Organisation (WHO)

Declared smallpox eradicated in 1979.

Cancer Research UK

Campaigns to reduce obesity and cancer cases.

Obesity and cancer link

Obesity identified as a significant cancer risk factor.

Public awareness campaigns

Efforts to inform about health risks and prevention.

Childhood obesity policies

Government initiatives aimed at reducing obesity rates.

1942 vaccination campaign

First national campaign against Diphtheria launched.

Epidemics in London

11 smallpox outbreaks recorded in the 18th century.

Worst smallpox epidemic in London

3548 in 1796

Inoculators

Practitioners who performed early inoculation methods.

Diphtheria

Bacterial infection targeted by modern vaccination efforts.

Public health responsibility

Charities' duty to inform and educate on health risks.

Campaign success

Awareness of obesity-cancer link rose from 15% to 43%.

Long-term impact Edward Jenner

Jenner's work led to the eradication of smallpox.

Diphtheria

A bacterial infection causing severe respiratory issues.

Vaccination Campaign

Government initiative to immunize populations against diseases.

Polio

Contagious disease leading to paralysis, especially in children.

Jonas Salk

Developer of the polio vaccine introduced in 1956.

HPV Vaccine

Protects against cervical cancer-linked sexually transmitted infections.

Clean Air Acts

Laws aimed at reducing air pollution in the UK.

Smog

Heavy fog caused by air pollution, particularly from coal.

Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles

Vehicles designed to produce minimal harmful emissions.

Heart Disease Prevention

Reducing air pollution could prevent 50,000 heart disease cases.

Lifestyle Campaigns

Government initiatives promoting healthier living to prevent diseases.

Stopober

Campaign encouraging people to stop smoking for a month.

Change4life Campaign

Initiative promoting healthy eating and increased physical activity.

Preventable Deaths

Deaths that could be avoided through healthier lifestyle choices.

Hospital Admissions

485,000 yearly admissions linked to smoking-related health issues.

Andreas Vesalius

Famous anatomist known for detailed human body studies.

Six Anatomical Tables

Vesalius's publication illustrating human anatomy in multiple languages.

Government Intervention

Actions taken by the government to improve public health.

Controversy Surrounding Vaccines

Public distrust leading to vaccine hesitancy and refusal.

Epidemic Prevention

Vaccination is crucial for preventing widespread disease outbreaks.

Air Quality Plans

Local strategies developed to improve air quality.

Emission Reduction Plan

£3.5 billion initiative to lower road transport emissions.

Health Inequalities

Disparities in health outcomes among different population groups.

Cervical Cancer

Cancer linked to HPV infections, preventable by vaccination.

Vesalius

Anatomist known for human dissection studies.

De Humani Corporis Fabrica

Vesalius's influential book on human anatomy.

Dissections

Surgical removal of body tissues for study.

Renaissance Artists

Sought anatomical knowledge for accurate human depiction.

Galen's Errors

300 errors, identified by Vesalius

Human Jaw Idea Correction

Vesalius corrected it to be in 1 part, not 2 like Galen said

Vena Cava

Vein leading from heart, not to liver.

Rib Count

Men and women have equal rib pairs.

Human Liver

Vesalius found it has two lobes, not five.

Breastbone Structure

Vesalius corrected it to three parts.

Anatomy Professors

Encouraged to perform dissections for teaching.