Medical Practice in Glassboro: Past, Present, and (my) Future

19th Century Medicine in the U.S.

When looking at Healthcare in the 19th century, in relation to modern medical practice, at first glance it may seem irrelevant. As a matter of fact, there have been significant scientific advancements that were made during this period. In the 1840s, one of the most important breakthroughs was the discovery of inhaling chloroform gases as a result this reduced the pain of surgery. From this point, physicians were now able to perform longer as well as more complicated procedures on their sedated patients. Another advancement in medicine, which completely changed the field of medicine was the invention and the utilization of antiseptics. Previously to this advancement, it was unheard of to perform medical procedures under a sterile environment. Prior to this, doctors, nurses, and any medical staff would essentially perform medical procedures with unsterile hands and instruments this would lead to the spreading of infections and diseases. There have been numerous amounts of advancements relative to equipment that are still relevant today. The medical field was first introduced to the stethoscope, laryngoscope, the medical thermometer, and the X-ray. As well as, drugs were better delivered to patients using new hypodermic needles and anesthesia machines. As a whole in the nineteenth century, there was an increase in laboratory research. Scientists started researching more about cellular, bacterial, and viral causes for diseases; allowing us to create more sophisticated drug remedies specific to those diseases. In addition, an increase in the standard and expectation of doctors were implemented in 1848 by the AMA, essentially spreading knowledge and raise qualification of being a physician. In 1900, most surgeries were still performed at the patient's home; to know that medicine has evolved and come so far within a century is jaw-dropping. Hands down medicine as a whole has advanced at an exponential rate.

This page has paths:

Contents of this path: