19th century approaches to treatment and prevention
I can evaluate the impact of Germ Theory on approaches to treating and preventing disease in the 19th century.
19th century approaches to treatment and prevention
I can evaluate the impact of Germ Theory on approaches to treating and preventing disease in the 19th century.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Bloodletting and patent medicines were popular but ineffective treatments.
- It was not understood why the smallpox vaccine worked.
- Louis Pasteur developed a replicable method for developing vaccines.
- Germ Theory did not lead to new treatments before 1900.
- Many successful public health reforms were not based on knowledge of Germ Theory.
Keywords
Quack - used to refer to people or medical practices which are useless and untrustworthy
Public health - actions and systems intended to prevent disease and maintain good health within communities
Common misconception
Development of the smallpox vaccine helped scientists to develop vaccines for other diseases.
It was not understood why the smallpox vaccine worked, so no new vaccines were developed until the last decades of the 19th century.
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: 19th century approaches to treatment and prevention, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: 19th century approaches to treatment and prevention, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
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Equipment
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision required