Health 3.2

What was the main problem with surgery before anaesthetics?

• Lack of trained surgeons

• Patients experienced extreme pain and often moved during operations

• Infections were fully understood but ignored

• Most surgery was done underwater

Answer explanation

Before anaesthetics, patients experienced extreme pain during surgery, which often caused them to move. This made operations dangerous and difficult for surgeons, highlighting the critical need for pain management.

Which anaesthetic did James Simpson discover in 1847?

• Ether

• Chloroform

• Nitrous oxide

• Carbolic acid

Answer explanation

James Simpson discovered chloroform in 1847, which became a significant anaesthetic in surgery. Ether was used earlier, but chloroform was preferred for its effectiveness and ease of use.

How did James Simpson discover chloroform’s effects?

• He read about it in a French textbook

• He experimented with friends in his dining room

• He tested it on wounded soldiers

• It was prescribed to him by a chemist

Answer explanation

James Simpson discovered chloroform's effects by experimenting with it in his dining room, where he and his friends inhaled the substance to observe its anesthetic properties.

Why was chloroform preferred to ether?

• It smelt better

• It acted more quickly and didn’t irritate the lungs

• It caused hallucinations

• It worked only on unconscious patients

Answer explanation

Chloroform was preferred to ether because it acted more quickly and was less irritating to the lungs, making it a more effective anesthetic option during procedures.

What was one risk associated with using chloroform?

• It stained the skin

• It caused infections

• It could affect the heart and cause sudden death

• It made patients too energetic

Answer explanation

One significant risk of using chloroform is that it could affect the heart and potentially cause sudden death, making it a dangerous anesthetic despite its effectiveness.

How did Queen Victoria influence public attitudes towards anaesthetics?

• She used chloroform during childbirth and praised it

• She banned pain relief in childbirth

• She declared surgery sinful

• She promoted ether in Parliament

Answer explanation

Queen Victoria's use of chloroform during childbirth and her positive remarks about it significantly influenced public attitudes, making anaesthetics more accepted and paving the way for their use in medical practices.

Why was there opposition to anaesthetics initially?

• Surgeons feared losing money

• Some believed pain was part of God’s plan

• They caused immediate infection

• They made operations too easy

Answer explanation

Initially, some opposed anaesthetics because they believed that experiencing pain was part of God's divine plan for humanity, viewing it as a necessary aspect of life and suffering.

Who developed the use of antiseptics in surgery?

• Edward Jenner

• James Simpson

• Joseph Lister

• Robert Koch

Answer explanation

Joseph Lister is credited with developing antiseptic techniques in surgery, significantly reducing infections and improving surgical outcomes. His work laid the foundation for modern surgical practices.

What did Lister use to sterilise wounds and surgical equipment?

• Carbolic acid

• Chloroform

• Boiling water

• Vinegar

Answer explanation

Lister used carbolic acid to sterilise wounds and surgical equipment, as it effectively killed bacteria and reduced infections during surgeries.

What inspired Lister to use carbolic acid?

• French perfume manufacturing

• Its use in cleaning sewage

• His father's invention

• Simpson’s work on childbirth

Answer explanation

Lister was inspired to use carbolic acid due to its effectiveness in cleaning sewage, which highlighted its antiseptic properties. This realization led him to apply it in surgical practices to reduce infections.