Individuals
Developed the Theory of the Four Humours, which influenced medical thinking for centuries.
Hippocrates
Belief that disease was caused by bad air or smells.
Miasma
First major public health law in Britain
1848 Public Health Act
Mass production of books; helped spread medical ideas like those of Vesalius and Harvey.
Printing Press (c.1440 – Johannes Gutenberg)
Two scientists that discovered the double helix in DNA in 1953
Watson and Crick
Studied anatomy; published "The Fabric of the Human Body" (1543); disproved Galen by showing errors in human anatomy.
Andreas Versalius
Drug used to stop pain during surgery
Anaesthetic
Compulsory for local councils to provide clean water, proper drainage, sewage systems, and street cleaning.
1875 Public Health Act
Foundation for Germ Theory, though not fully understood until later.
Microscopes (Late 1500s–1600s)
It took 7 years to become this medieval profession
physician
Developed the smallpox vaccine in 1796; first successful vaccination.
Edward Jenner
Outdated belief that germs appeared from rotting matter.
Spontaneous Generation
Not a law, but a key report proposing the creation of the welfare state
1942 Beveridge Report
First effective anaesthetic; revolutionised pain control during surgery.
Chloroform (1847 – James Simpson)
What is Humanism?
Humanism was the love of learning with a belief that human beings had control of their own lives rather than God.
Linked cholera to contaminated water in 1854 (Broad Street Pump); promoted public health reforms.
John Snow
Belief that the government should not interfere with people’s lives.
Laissez-faire
Spearheaded by Aneurin Bevan, Labour Minister for Health.
1948 National Health Service (NHS)
Stored blood safely with sodium citrate; led to blood banks.
Blood Transfusion
What was the Royal Society's motto?
Nullius in verba. This means ‘Take nobody’s word for it’.
Minister of Health who launched the NHS in 1948.
Aneurin Bevan
Chemicals developed to target and kill specific bacteria
Magic Bullets
Passed in response to the Great Smog of 1952; aimed to reduce air pollution.
1956 & 1968 Clean Air Acts
First effective antiseptic; used to prevent infection in surgery.
Carbolic Acid Spray (1865 – Joseph Lister)
What South American anaesthetic did William Halsted try and use for surgery that eventually led to novocaine
Cocaine