- Four Humours
- Medieval theory (from Galen): disease caused by imbalance of blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Dominated medicine until the 19th century.
- Miasma Theory
- Belief that disease spread through "bad air" — foul smells from rotting matter, sewage, corpses. Wrong about the mechanism but accidentally discouraged contact with infected areas.
- Germ Theory
- Pasteur's 1861 proof that disease is caused by microscopic organisms (bacteria). Replaced humours and miasma as the explanation for how disease spreads.
- Public Health Act 1848
- First national public health legislation — but voluntary only. Councils could improve water and sewage if they chose to.
- Public Health Act 1875
- Made public health improvements compulsory — a major turning point in government responsibility for health.
- Epidemiology
- The study of how diseases spread through populations — pioneered by John Snow's 1854 investigation.
- Antibiotic
- A substance that kills or inhibits bacteria. Penicillin (discovered 1928, mass-produced 1941) was the first antibiotic.
- Welfare State
- A system in which the government takes responsibility for citizens' health, unemployment, and old age. The NHS (1948) is its centrepiece in Britain.
This definitions covers Key Terms You Must Know within The People's Health, c.1250-present for GCSE History. Revise The People's Health, c.1250-present in Component Group 1 — Thematic Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 17 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 11 of 16 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
Practice questions for The People's Health, c.1250-present
Describe two features of medieval beliefs about the causes of disease.
Describe two responses to the Black Death in England.
Quick recall flashcards
What was Miasma Theory?
The belief that disease spread through foul-smelling 'bad air' from rotting matter, sewage, and corpses. Wrong about the cause, but accidentally encouraged avoiding infected areas.
What were the Four Humours (Galen)?
Blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile. Galen taught that disease was caused by imbalance of these fluids. Treatments aimed to restore balance — bleeding, purging, vomiting. Dominated medicine until the 19th century.