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The practice of medicine changed in the face of rapid advances in science, as well as new approaches by physicians. Hospital doctors began a more systematic analysis of patients' symptoms.

The decline in the most lethal diseases was actually due to improvements in public health and nutrition, rather than to medicine. By observing and tracking major outbreaks, many scientists were able to reduce/eradicate diseases without fully understanding the mechanics behind those diseases.

Many of these observations fueled major scientific advancements that changed the accepted germ theory.

The drive to understand the mechanics behind observed changes really advanced chemistry and laboratory techniques and equipment. Old ideas of infectious disease epidemiology were replaced with bacteriology and virology.

The 19th century refers to the 1800s.

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PERSPECTIVE

Ignaz Semmelweis requires physicians to wash their hands before delivering babies in 1847.

Joseph Lister published a paper introduction antiseptic surgical methods in 1867.

In Europe, the 19th century marked a change in medicine.

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