Victorian Era Medicine

Victorian-era medicine, spanning from the 1830s to 1900, was marked by significant advancements but also many misconceptions. Doctors primarily relied on observation and limited surgical techniques. Germ theory, introduced by Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch, began to challenge ideas about disease, leading to improved sanitation and hygiene. However, common practices included bloodletting and the use of harmful substances like mercury. Anesthesia, discovered in the 1840s, revolutionized surgery, while the establishment of hospitals and nursing as a profession improved patient care. Despite limitations, this period laid crucial groundwork for modern medical science.