Why did disease spread so easily in the Victorian period?

1. Why did disease spread so easily in the Victorian period? Discuss this with the person next to you for 3 minutes

2. Would you have survived a visit to a Victorian doctor? Key Words Epidemic Miasma Travelling Quack

3. Task • In groups of 4 look at the pictures in front of you • Discuss what you think each one is showing • Match the picture to the description • Fill out your table to show how Victorians treated illness

6. Travelling Quacks People who travelled the country selling medicine for treatment. They knew that the medicine would not work. • Quacks took advantage of people’s fears. They came out in force during epidemics [periods of bad illness]. They made lots of money out of useless remedies for common aches and pains - stomach pain, headaches, and so on. • They also loved to take advantage of the latest scientific discoveries, selling cures using magnetism, electricity or X-rays. • Quacks relied on having style and charisma [good at speaking]. They aimed at rich patients. They often used drama to draw people in, putting on medicine ‘shows’ to entertain them, and writing books to advertise their products.

8. Pharmacy Prepared medicines and treated patients • Pharmacists did not have any medical training • They made medicines from plants and berries that they grew themselves • Recipes were either based on superstition or based on the idea that certain colours cure certain parts of the body • People who did not have enough money to pay for a doctor might visit a pharmacy as they were cheaper

10. Hospital People who could not afford a doctor to come to their home were treated in hospitals • Victorian hospitals were crowded and very unclean • People with contagious diseases [diseases that could spread from person to person] had to go to special hospitals • People did not understand that germs caused disease. They thought it was spread through bad or smelly air. This was called Miasma • Not many operations were carried out because people often died from surgery. There was no anaesthetic or antiseptic

12. Herbal Remedies Most people could not afford a doctor so they made remedies at home using recipes from a book • Paper soaked in vinegar is placed on the head or a headache • Bread soaked in water and cayenne pepper is swallowed for a sore throat • The white of an egg is spread over the wound of a burn

14. Doctors Trained men who would diagnose patients • Had medical training • Only men could be doctors • Doctors would visit patients at home but were very expensive. Some doctors would even carry out operations at a patient’s home! • For most of the most of the Victorian period they did not understand that germs caused disease

15. Extension • You are the local medical advisor for Shenfield in 1850 • Where would you advice the following people go to get medical help? Explain your choice • Poor person with a major injury • Poor person with a headache • Rich Person with a major injury • Rich person with a sore throat