Is Laughter the Best Medicine? Quiz

Answer: Hand washing

Ignaz Semmelweis had observed that the death rates of women on maternity wards staffed by male doctors was higher than that on the wards staffed by female midwives. He trialled several theories to explain this difference. It was only when a colleague died after completing an autopsy of a patient who died of 'childbirth fever' that he realised that the link was due to 'cadaveral contamination'.

He ordered his staff to clean their medical equipment as well as their hands with both soap and a chlorine solution.

As a result, the rates of childbirth fever dropped considerably. However, his theory and technique were not widely accepted for many years.

Answer: Smallpox

Smallpox was a highly contagious disease, killing a significant number of people. Those who survived were often badly scarred and prone to other complications such as blindness. The last recorded case was in 1977, with an estimated 30 million people dying in the 20th century prior to this.

Jenner developed a much more effective vaccine than had previously been used (variolation which used smallpox particles) by using the more benign cowpox. He helped to pave the way for the eradication of this disease.

Answer: Chloroform

John Snow quickly became the expert anaesthetist in England after observing the demonstration of the use of ether by dental surgeon, James Simpson. He also soon realised that the rate and amount of anaesthesia could impact the respiratory system of the patient and he developed ways of delivering anaesthesia more safely.

Answer: A well

John Snow was able to pinpoint the source of infection through interviews and mapping the outbreak. His investigations showed that the affected households had used the same well to draw their water. This particular well was located next to a former cesspit which leaked into the water supply the well drew from. He also undertook analysis of the rates of infection and compared these to the companies that supplied water and from where they drew their supply - water drawn from the upper parts of the Thames had lower rates of cholera than water drawn from near the city. In 1858, London suffered from the 'Great Stink' caused in part by the heavily polluted Thames and untreated effluent.

Snow's work is an early example of epidemiology, a field which has helped to improve public health around the world.

Answer: St Thomas' Hospital

Florence Nightingale's name is still associated with this School of Nursing, now part of King's College London. Her curriculum was based on her book, 'Notes on Nursing' and highlighted the importance of hygiene. From the 1860s, trained nurses were responsible for providing care in the workhouses.

Her work helped to make hospitals a much safer place for patients through these principles as well as making nursing a more respected occupation than it had been previously.

Answer: Joseph Lister

Joseph Lister became interested in the prevention of infection after reading publications of Louis Pasteur's work. He began testing the use of carbolic acid to prevent infection in 1865. He insisted that his staff wear clean gloves, and to wash their hands and surgical instruments with a solution of carbolic acid.

He found that the rates of 'suppurations' or infection decreased. While his ideas were initially ridiculed, by the end of his career they were widely accepted.

Answer: Nobel Prize

Roentgen was experimenting with cathode rays when he noticed fluorescent glows from a screen of barium platinocyanide. Subsequent experiments led to him using lead to see if they would block the rays, leading to him observing the image of his own skeleton on the screen.

His findings helped to revolutionise the ability to diagnose fractures and he is now recognised as the father of radiology and diagnostic medicine.

Answer: The Guinea Pig Club

Archibald McIndoe was one of the first to realise that saline was important in treating burn injuries after observing that pilots who crashed into the sea had less infection and better healing than those who crashed on land. He developed the 'walking-stalk skin flap' as a way of protecting the graft tissue from infection. He also moved away from the standard treatments by encouraging his patients to be active and to socialise with the residents of East Grinstead where his hospital was based. His patients affectionately named themselves 'the guinea pigs' in recognition of the experimental nature of his treatments. The Guinea Pig Club is a real organisation and counted 649 registered members.

'McIndoe's Army: The Story of the Guinea Pig Club and Its Indomitable Members' by Edward Bishop tells their story.

Answer: Spray on skin

Prior to the development of 'spray on skin' it was time consuming to be able to grow sufficient skin for skin grafts. By being able to use the spray early in the patient's treatment, healing is promoted and scarring reduced.

Dr Wood and her team were responsible for caring for the largest group of Bali bomb survivors, and it was this product which helped with the effective treatment.

Answer: Folic acid (B9)

Spina bifida is one of the most common forms of neural tube defects, which occur when the spinal cord in a developing baby does not fully form. Depending on where the defect occurs, walking can be difficult and continence can be affected. By supplementing products such as bread and cereals, as well as through taking Vitamin B supplements, the rate of neural tube defects has reduced significantly.