The 1800's were obviously pretty rough. In the 1800's, there was barely any knowledge of medicine or treating wounds. The sicknesses and infections took over the body and killed so many in a few days Influenza, polio, smallpox, typhoid fever, yellow fever. Even mental illnesses could get you killed by the treatments for them. One of the earliest treatments was to drill holes into the patient's head. To treat coughs, the doctor just suggested smoking tobacco. Because of the awful working conditions, pneumonia was a very common sickness as well. In 1830, The Second Cholera Pandemic, which is an infection of the small intestine. It started in India then continued to spread overseas to the Oregon trail and killed almost 150,000 Americans alone. Malaria started in during the Civil war as well. Malaria used to be referred to swamp fever, chill blains, and the shakes. The health was so poor, people started dying from tooth infections even. Now we have studies, medicines, and miracles all of the time. During this time period, we have vaccinations and drugs for almost anything patients come to hospitals with. Tobacco is now a huge cause of cancer, there is no malaria in the u.s. that's heard of. .
Drugs were also a big thing in that time. Morphine was first given in the year of 1853 through a hypodermic needle which is when they were invented. During the Civil War, it was used to treat soldiers. Morphine is the most prescribed major painkiller known to mankind. Heroin was discovered in the 1870's. It is 7 times more potent than morphine. Once found out it was addictive after one use, heroin was removed from hospitals. In 1937, cannabis was banned in the U.S. In the 1930's, it was discovered that it could be used for muscle spasms and pain. Aspirin was officially invented in 1899 after scientists tested the bark of willow trees. Cocaine originated from South America. The leaves were used to wrap around wounds and broken bones.
