When Victoria became Queen, little was known about the causes of disease or how to cure them. There were no proper sewage systems in the towns and drinking water was often polluted. Epidemics of cholera and typhoid caused thousands of deaths. People living in damp, unheated houses often died from tuberculosis.hildren also died from diphtheria, scarlet fever, smallpox, measles and whooping cough.
Important medical discoveries were made during Victoria's reign. In 1847 anaesthetic was used to put people to sleep during an operation and in the 1870s antiseptics were used to kill germs and stop infections. By 1890 people were being vaccinated against diphtheria and towns had better drainage and cleaner drinking water which led to much healthier living conditions. |
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People
had to pay to see a doctor so, unless it was a real emergency most illnesses
were treated by mother at home. Everyone had their own home cures. Some
people thought you could prevent colds by sewing children into brown paper
vests smeared with thick lard. They kept them on all winter.