The Medical Potential of the 19th Century America was known for being one of the least prepared medical countries in the world in the early 19th century. Although today we are considered to have one of the best medical programs in the world, America once ignored the importance of hygiene and health. The main points of medical progress throughout the 19th century were new practices and beliefs, new diseases and bacteria formed and discovered, as well as drugs discovered and famous surgeries performed. The development of medicine in the 19th century progressed rapidly as scientists and doctors created new theories and antidotes that would change medical history forever. In the early 19th century, many religious groups believed in many different cures, even if it was on their own. heal or by herbs and plants. Others believed that there were different methods that could help cure the patient, but they later learned that these old methods would harm their patients and could simply cause death. The ancient method of medicine from the early 19th century was known as the quack beliefs: "Quakers promoted bizarre treatments like electric clothing, water cures, and bloodletting of patients in order to purge germs from the body of the person” (Floyd, Barbara). They then realized that after carrying out these treatments, there was gradually an increase in deaths and they had to gradually disapprove of these many medical theories. New eras were forming and the scientific community struggled to maintain its existence, the era of romanticism began and untrained health reformers became doctors and began to give tre...... middle of paper... .. painless surgical procedures, but nitrous oxide is a drug that has left most surgeons addicted for life. It showed progress as well as success in the medical world, it showed our weaknesses and our high potential, but there were many obstacles that America had to overcome to now be considered one of the most successful countries. best medically prepared in the world. Many other new medical tools and drugs were created during this particular time period that would make America a more prosperous country, not only industrially but also medically. Without our misguided failure in the medical field, we would not be as prepared as we are today. Learning about medicine in the past not only helps in thinking about future medical issues but also helps in understanding where something went wrong or was not as modern and how can it be improved for other generations future..