Biology 1.2 : Fighting Diseases - Past & Future

FIGHTING DISEASES - PAST AND FUTURE

SEMMELWEIS CUT DEATH BY USING ANTISEPTICS

While IGNAZ SEMMELWEIS working in VIENNA GENERAL HOSPITAL in the 1840's 

He saw LOADS of WOMEN DYING AFTRE CHILDBIRTH from PUEPERAL FEVER (disease)

He thought DOCTORS SPREAD DISEASE ON THEIR UNWASHED HANDS

Told doctors to wash hands in ANTISEPTIC SOLUTION - cut deaths from 12% to 2%

Antiseptic soloution killed BACTERIA on doctors hands - he didn't know this

Semmelweis couldn't PROVE why it worked - methods dropped when he left (more deaths)

Nowadays we know BASIC HYGIENE = essential in disease control

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