Medical Advances In The 19th Century Essay

The twentieth century would bring a plethora of scientific growth in the field of medicine. Society would benefit from the advancements in 19th-century science, by experiencing an increased availability of patient care, which would most notably increase life expectancy. The contrast between the start of the century with the end of the century shows a vast improvement. The way diseases are treated and prevented with vaccinations and medicine, changed peoples understanding of being able to have a long and healthy life, no matter the social class. Throughout the 1900’s, the importance of vaccinations had developed from understanding the science behind them along with the methods of manipulating them to make them safer and more efficient.

His research would explain that by using a weakened virus to infect a healthy animal or person, immunity would develop. It would be because of an error that Pasteur would make one of his most significant discovery with bacteria. While researching the cause of chicken cholera, an assistant failed to use a fresh batch of bacteria, the result was not only useful in treatment but proved to be less risky. Another unexpected breakthrough from Alexander Fleming produced what is now one of the most prescribed medicines, antibiotics. In 1928, Alexander Fleming was working with Staphylococcus, during his research one of his plate cultures became contaminated with mold. Fleming described the results in a 1929 publication, “the contaminating mold in the staphylococcus became transparent and were obviously undergoing lysis.” (Fleming) He further explains that the organism is a P. Rubrum penicillium, which he has never found in nature. After Penicillin was approved for being an active antibiotic, it would be used for the soldiers in World War II proves to be successful life-saving