An important exam point: Anaesthetics temporarily made surgery MORE dangerous (the "Black Period" 1846-1870). This shows that progress isn't always linear — solving one problem (pain) can expose or worsen another (infection).
This exam focus covers Exam Technique: The "Black Period" of Surgery within The Surgery Revolution for GCSE History. Revise The Surgery Revolution in Medicine Through Time for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 6 of 16 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Practice questions for The Surgery Revolution
Who introduced chloroform as an anaesthetic in 1847?
What antiseptic did Joseph Lister use in surgery from 1867?