Final Exam Edexcel iGCSE: Changes
in Medicine 1845-1945 Test Questions
Fully Solved 2026 Updated.
Changes in Medicine: c1845-c1945 - Answer
Why was there a lack of understanding of causes of disease? - Answer -There was a lack of
Education
-People were unopened to new ideas
- People believed that illness and pain were a gift from God, so they should not be treated as it
would go against God's will
Who was Hippocrates? - Answer He was a teacher of doctors on the island of Cos,Greece. He
was born in 460 BC and he was the founder of the Hippocratic Oath. He also wrote many books.
He believed in the 4 humours: blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. He believed that if
there was an imbalance in the humours then you would be ill. He was also an advocate for
recording the observed illness and treatments so that if another patients had the same illness
then they would be treated in the same way.
Who was Galen? - Answer He was born in Greece un AD129. He wrote over 350 books and
was a fan of dissection to discover new medical ideas. His ideas of treatments primarily came
from Hippocrates and believed that to rebalance the humours then you would do the opposite
to treat an illness. He believed that if someone had a cold and phlegm then he would treat it
with something warm, such as hot pepper.
What improvements were made in the c19? - Answer - the mortality rate had decreased due
to the introduction of antiseptic technique
- animal to human blood transfusions had stopped
- Blood groups were discovered by the 1900s
- hygiene levels had improved
What problems were still face by people in the 1800s? - Answer - pain - there was no way of
preventing pain and patients often died of shock
- infection - people were unaware that microbes cause infection and that microbes could be
spread by wearing the same apron during all procedures and by not disinfecting surgeries
, Florence Nightingale. She was highly credited for her work but many people believe that she did
not deserve all of the credit that she had received.
What were the 3 main types of anaesthetics? - Answer - 'Laughing gas' (Nitrous Oxide)
-Ether
-Chloroform
Who discovered 'Laughing gas' and what did it do? - Answer Sir Humphrey Davy discovered
it in 1799. It reduced pain but didn't make patients completely unconscious and pain was still a
problem.
Who discovered ether and what did it do? - Answer John Collins Warren discovered it in
1846. It was used by Robert Liston during a leg amputation but it irritated the eyes and lungs
causing coughing and sickness. It could also catch fire and had a vile smell. It was also stored in
large heavy bottles so was difficult to carry around
Who discovered chloroform and what did it do? - Answer James Simpson discovered it in
1847 while at home with some of his colleges. He realised that chloroform was very effective
and started to use it during childbirth and in operations.He wrote articles to tell other doctors
about his discover and other surgeons began to use it in their surgeries.
What work did James Simpson do? - Answer James Simpson discovered Chloroform in 1847,
when he and his two assistance experimented with it. Within a month he had successfully used
chloroform on over 50 patients. It had none of the side effects of ether.
Why was there opposition to anaesthetic?
Mainly to Simpson. - Answer - death due to an overdose of chloroform caused doctors to
become scared to use it
- they were uncomfortable for patients
- some doctors believed that pain was good for healing
- people didn't understand how they worked so were skeptical of their use
- they did not understand the side effects that the anaesthetics had on the body
- surgeons wanted to carry out operations quickly and cheaply so did not want to use
anaesthetic
in Medicine 1845-1945 Test Questions
Fully Solved 2026 Updated.
Changes in Medicine: c1845-c1945 - Answer
Why was there a lack of understanding of causes of disease? - Answer -There was a lack of
Education
-People were unopened to new ideas
- People believed that illness and pain were a gift from God, so they should not be treated as it
would go against God's will
Who was Hippocrates? - Answer He was a teacher of doctors on the island of Cos,Greece. He
was born in 460 BC and he was the founder of the Hippocratic Oath. He also wrote many books.
He believed in the 4 humours: blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. He believed that if
there was an imbalance in the humours then you would be ill. He was also an advocate for
recording the observed illness and treatments so that if another patients had the same illness
then they would be treated in the same way.
Who was Galen? - Answer He was born in Greece un AD129. He wrote over 350 books and
was a fan of dissection to discover new medical ideas. His ideas of treatments primarily came
from Hippocrates and believed that to rebalance the humours then you would do the opposite
to treat an illness. He believed that if someone had a cold and phlegm then he would treat it
with something warm, such as hot pepper.
What improvements were made in the c19? - Answer - the mortality rate had decreased due
to the introduction of antiseptic technique
- animal to human blood transfusions had stopped
- Blood groups were discovered by the 1900s
- hygiene levels had improved
What problems were still face by people in the 1800s? - Answer - pain - there was no way of
preventing pain and patients often died of shock
- infection - people were unaware that microbes cause infection and that microbes could be
spread by wearing the same apron during all procedures and by not disinfecting surgeries
, Florence Nightingale. She was highly credited for her work but many people believe that she did
not deserve all of the credit that she had received.
What were the 3 main types of anaesthetics? - Answer - 'Laughing gas' (Nitrous Oxide)
-Ether
-Chloroform
Who discovered 'Laughing gas' and what did it do? - Answer Sir Humphrey Davy discovered
it in 1799. It reduced pain but didn't make patients completely unconscious and pain was still a
problem.
Who discovered ether and what did it do? - Answer John Collins Warren discovered it in
1846. It was used by Robert Liston during a leg amputation but it irritated the eyes and lungs
causing coughing and sickness. It could also catch fire and had a vile smell. It was also stored in
large heavy bottles so was difficult to carry around
Who discovered chloroform and what did it do? - Answer James Simpson discovered it in
1847 while at home with some of his colleges. He realised that chloroform was very effective
and started to use it during childbirth and in operations.He wrote articles to tell other doctors
about his discover and other surgeons began to use it in their surgeries.
What work did James Simpson do? - Answer James Simpson discovered Chloroform in 1847,
when he and his two assistance experimented with it. Within a month he had successfully used
chloroform on over 50 patients. It had none of the side effects of ether.
Why was there opposition to anaesthetic?
Mainly to Simpson. - Answer - death due to an overdose of chloroform caused doctors to
become scared to use it
- they were uncomfortable for patients
- some doctors believed that pain was good for healing
- people didn't understand how they worked so were skeptical of their use
- they did not understand the side effects that the anaesthetics had on the body
- surgeons wanted to carry out operations quickly and cheaply so did not want to use
anaesthetic
