Biomedicine: Crash Course History of Science #34 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The history of biomedicine during World War Two includes both incredible medical advancements and horrifying atrocities committed by Nazi doctors and Unit 731 in Japan.

Key Insights

• 🪡 Biomedical breakthroughs during World War Two included the development of morphine, the hypodermic needle, and chemical compounds like Salvarsan.
• 🫢 Treatments such as malaria-fever therapy, insulin shock therapy, and lobotomies were introduced during this time, but their usage has changed or been discontinued.
• 🛟 The development of antibiotics, especially penicillin, revolutionized the treatment of various diseases and saved countless lives.
• 😷 The atrocities committed by Nazi doctors and Unit 731 during the war led to major advancements in medical ethics and the establishment of bioethics as a field.

Transcript

Who’s ready for more World War Two science? No? No one? Well, this story is about all kinds of badness, yes—but also a lot of incredible goodness. The history of science up until the Cold War is often overshadowed by the Manhattan Project. But today we are going to talk about advances in biomedicine, or healthcare based on a biological understandin... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What were some of the biomedical breakthroughs during World War Two?

Some biomedical breakthroughs during World War Two included the development of morphine, the hypodermic needle, chemical compounds like Salvarsan, malaria-fever therapy, insulin shock therapy, and lobotomies.

Q: How did the development of antibiotics impact medicine during this time?

The development of antibiotics, particularly penicillin, greatly improved the treatment of various diseases and made previously deadly conditions manageable. Penicillin replaced sulfas as the go-to treatment during the war.

Q: Were there any ethical concerns regarding medical research during this time?

Yes, the revelations of the atrocities committed by Nazi doctors and Unit 731 during World War Two led to the creation of the Nuremberg Code and the establishment of bioethics as a new branch of philosophy.

Q: What were some of the advancements in medical ethics and regulations after World War Two?

The Nuremberg Code was established to guide medical research involving human subjects, and it led to the implementation of institutional review boards (IRBs) to ensure the ethical conduct of human subjects research.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Biomedical breakthroughs in the early 1900s included the discovery of morphine, the introduction of the hypodermic needle, and the development of chemical compounds like Salvarsan.

• Medical treatments such as malaria-fever therapy, insulin shock therapy, and lobotomies were also introduced during this time.

• The development of antibiotics, specifically penicillin, revolutionized the treatment of various diseases and opened up new possibilities for medical research.