The Role of War in 18th and 19th Century Medicine

What role did war play in medicine in the 18th and 19th centuries?

War played an important role in the development of medicine and surgery during the period as some wars led to new developments.

What are some examples of war influencing medicine in the 18th and 19th centuries?

Here are some examples of the role that war played.

• ❖ The French loss in the Franco-Prussian War in 1871 led to an increase in rivalry between Koch and Pasteur.
• ❖ When the Boer War broke out in 1899, thousands of volunteers were rejected as being too unfit to serve in the army. This led to government changes to public health.
• ❖ During the Crimean War in 1853 to 1856, Florence Nightingale used to clean the hospital wards due to the fear of miasma, which ultimately led to reduced rates of infection.