What was medicine like in the 1930s?

What was medicine like in the 1930s?

Major developments in the field of medicine and health occurred during the 1930s. Scientists developed vaccines for crippling diseases like poliomyelitis (commonly known as polio), while new “sulfa” drugs promised therapy for a wide range of infections. New anesthetics made surgery safer and less painful.

What disease was in the 1930?

In 1930s, many people on the Great Plains suffered from “dust pneumonia” where grit in the lungs simulated the symptoms of the killer disease. The problem was so wide-spread that singer Woody Guthrie wrote a song called “Dust Pneumonia Blues.”

Were there doctors in the 1930s?

General practitioners (GPs) had difficulty collecting their bills during the Depression. Among physicians, they earned the least, while surgeons and specialists earned the most. In 1930, specialist doctors in Wisconsin earned as much as $20,000 per year, around five times the average for doctors overall.

Were there hospitals in the 1930s?

Municipal hospitals were particularly busy during the 1930s. In one statistical analysis, between 1929 and 1933, public hospitals saw an increase of 21 percent in patient load with an average occupancy rate of 90 percent in 1933.

Was there a plague in 1930?

Between 1931-1932 there were five instances of plague on the island of Maui, with four of the victims dying; following these cases there was instance of plague in humans in the United States thru the 1930s[13]. During the 1930s there were countless occurrences of rats and small rodents being infected by the plague[14].

How were heart attacks treated in the 1930s?

The treatment of heart attacks has come almost full cycle from the 1930’s and 1940’s, when physicians prescribed prolonged bed rest, oxygen and sedation for most heart attack patients, many of whom were cared for at home.

Was there a flu epidemic in the 1930s?

After the influenza pandemic of 1918, influenza went back to its usual pattern of regional epidemics of lesser virulence in the 1930s, 1940s, and early 1950s. With the first isolation of a virus from humans in 1933 (5), speculation began about the possible role of a similar virus in 1918.

What was the leading cause of death in 1930?

The researchers analyzed age-specific mortality rates and rates due to six causes of death that composed about two-thirds of total mortality in the 1930s: cardiovascular and renal diseases, cancer, influenza and pneumonia, tuberculosis, motor vehicle traffic injuries, and suicide.

How long did it take to become a doctor in the 1930s?

He established patient-oriented care and many ethical and scientific standards. By 1930, nearly all medical schools required a liberal arts degree for admission and provided a 3- to 4-year graded curriculum in medicine and surgery.

What diseases were common during the Great Depression?

How long has heart disease been the leading cause of death?

Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for the past 80 years (1) and is a major cause of disability.