5.5 - advancements in medicine

when did penicillin become available on perscription?

from 1948

what was penicillin effective at?

fighting diseases like pneumonia

soon…

the entire child population was being vaccinated against such diseases

when was the polio vaccine introduced?

1954

antibiotics also…

brought tuberculosis under control

how much did life expectancy rise by as a result of antibiotics? (1944 to 72)

8 years

when was the first kidney transplant?

1952

when wwas the first pacemaker put in in britain?

1961

when was the first successful heart transplant?

1967

when did hip replacements become available?

1972

what impact did this all have on life expectancy?

it rose more in the 20th century than it did in any other century

what was life expectancy in 1900?

around 50

what is it now?

over 80