A 19th century revolution in surgery
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the impact of surgical developments to manage blood loss, pain and infection during the 19th century.
Key learning points
- Chloroform was discovered as an an effective anaesthetic in the 1840s.
- Infections became more common in surgeries as improved anaesthetics were used.
- Joseph Lister encouraged the use of carbolic acid as an antiseptic to sterilise wounds.
- Lister faced considerable medical opposition.
- Surgeons began to practice aseptic methods by the end of the 19th century.
Keywords
Invasive - in this context, medical treatments which involve cutting into the body
Transfusion - the process of adding an amount of blood to a person’s body
Anaesthetic - a substance that makes you unable to feel pain
Sterilise - to make something free from microbes
Common misconception
Surgery continually improved during the 19th century.
Improvements in anaesthetics led to more invasive surgeries which actually made infection a greater problem in the mid-19th century.
Teacher tip
Ask pupils what was the most important development in surgery during the 19th century. You may prompt pupils to consider criteria such as the strengths and weakness of each development and their long-term impact on other developments.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who developed a vaccine for rabies in 1885?
Q2.Write the missing word. In the 19th century, quack medicines were often referred to as medicines.
Q3.What were leeches commonly used for in 19th century medicine?
Q4.Which statement is most accurate?
Q5.In which century was Germ Theory developed?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What term means 'to make something free from microbes'?
Q2.Match each of the developments in surgery with the problem which it was supposed to help manage.
blood loss
pain
infections
Q3.Who pioneered the use of antiseptic methods of surgery?
Q4.Write the missing word. Steam cleaning surgical equipment is an example of surgery.
Q5.What did Joseph Lister's antiseptic methods reduced death rates during his surgeries to?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following developments into chronological order.
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: A 19th century revolution in surgery, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: A 19th century revolution in surgery, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Britain: Health and the people - c1000 to the present day unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.