'There was little improvement in dealing with infectious diseases in the years c1500-c1900' - Edexcel - GCSE History - Question 6 - 2020 - Paper 1

To respond to the question, it’s essential to evaluate the extent of improvement in dealing with infectious diseases between 1500 and 1900. This analysis can be broken down into two key time frames: the period prior to the 19th century and the changes culminated by the end of the 19th century.

Analyzing the Pre-19th Century Situation

In the early years (c1500), methods to combat infectious diseases were rudimentary. The Great Plague of 1665 exemplifies the limited medical understanding at the time. The lack of knowledge about bacteria and germs led to ineffective solutions, such as quarantine measures and religious rituals, which had limited success in reducing the spread of the disease.

Addressing the Broad Street Pump Incident

The Broad Street Pump incident in London in 1854 marks a significant turning point. John Snow's work in mapping the outbreak and identifying contaminated water as the infection source provided crucial evidence for public health reforms. Although this did lead to reforms in the sanitation system, it was not until the late 19th century that the germ theory of disease, proposed by Pasteur and others, fundamentally changed the approach to infectious diseases.

Evaluating Progress

Thus, while there were some positive developments towards the end of the 19th century, the overall approach to infectious diseases in the earlier periods showed little systematic improvement. By the end of the period c1900, however, public health initiatives had begun to tackle the problems more effectively, illustrated by the implementation of the 1875 Public Health Act which aimed to improve living conditions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the statement holds weight as there was little improvement until the germ theory emerged and public health became prioritized; thus I partially agree, indicating that significant advancements did occur in the late 19th century compared to earlier ineffective responses.