How did doctors prevent infection in the 1840s?

Doctors in the 1840s faced significant challenges in preventing infection due to limited scientific understanding and lack of technologies we take for granted today. While some antiseptic practices were emerging, they were not widely adopted or fully effective. Here are some methods used to prevent infection during that time:

Bloodletting: This common medical practice was believed to release harmful substances from the body and balance fluids, but it actually increased the risk of infection.

Cupping: Heated cups were applied to the skin to create suction, drawing out "impurities" and promoting blood flow. While it was thought to alleviate various ailments, cupping did not contribute to preventing infection.

Purgatives and Emetics: Doctors often prescribed purgatives (laxatives) and emetics (agents that induce vomiting) to cleanse the body and treat illnesses, but these methods could weaken patients and make them more susceptible to infection.

Isolation: In some cases, patients with infectious diseases were isolated to prevent the spread of infection. This practice became more prevalent later in the 19th century.

Improved Hygiene: There was a growing emphasis on hygiene and cleanliness in medical settings, with doctors starting to wash their hands before examining patients and using cleaner instruments. However, effective sterilization techniques were still under development.

Iodide and Silver Nitrate: Some doctors began using iodine and silver nitrate to cleanse wounds, but these substances had limited effectiveness in preventing infection.

Antiseptic Procedures: Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician, observed the high rates of infection in obstetric clinics and made significant contributions to infection prevention. He advocated for frequent handwashing with chlorinated lime solution, which effectively reduced infection rates. However, his ideas faced resistance from many in the medical community.

Early Antiseptic Surgery: In the 1840s, some surgeons, like Robert Liston, began using antiseptic techniques during surgeries, such as washing instruments in carbolic acid and cleaning wounds with chlorine solution. However, these practices were not yet widespread and the overall understanding of germ theory was still lacking.

Overall, infection prevention in the 1840s was greatly limited by the limited scientific knowledge and practices of the time. It took several more decades for the true understanding of infection transmission, hand hygiene, and the germ theory to revolutionize medical practices and significantly reduce infection rates.