History of Medicine

James Lind

A naval physician that developed the theory that scurvy and beriberi was caused by vitamin deficiencies and cured by citrus fruits and healthy diet.

Antwon Van Leeuwenhoek

“Father of microbiology”

Discovered bacteria and other microscopic organisms

The first to record microscopic observations on muscle fibers, blood vessels, and spermatozoa.

Rene Laennec

“Father of pulmonary diseases”

Invented the stethoscope

Ignas Semmelweis

Encouraged physicians to wash their hands with lime after performing autopsies and before delivering babies in order to prevent childbirth fever

Carl Landsteiner

Discovered that there were different types of blood, and that the different types should not be mixed

Walter Reed

Confirmed the theory that yellow fever is transmitted by a particular mosquito species rather than by direct contact

Watson & Crick

Shared the Nobel Prize in 1962 with Wilkins for discovering the structure of DNA and how it carries genetic information

Rosalind Franklin

Contributed to finding the structure of DNA with her x-ray crystallography of DNA

Louise Brown

The first baby to be conceived with a IVF

Elizabeth Blackwell

The first female physician in the US

Started the first Women’s Medical College in New York in 1868

HELA

Cervical cancer cells, taken from Henrietta Lacks. They were the first cells that could easily be shared and multiplied in a lab setting.

It allowed for extensive application in scientific and medical study, such as polio eradication, virology, cancer, etc.

Clara Barton

Founded the American Red Cross in 1881, and served as its first president.

Marie Curie

Isolated radium in 1910

Dorothea Dix

A mental health advocate, was appointed superintendent of female nurses of the army

Leonardo da Vinci

Artist who used dissection to draw the human body

Gabriel Fahrenheit

Created the first mercury thermometer

Sir Alexander Fleming

Discovered penicillin in 1928

Benjamin Franklin

Credited with the invention of bifocal glasses to aid those who could not see

Sigmund Freud

Father of psychoanalysis

Studies formed the basis for psychology and psychaiatry

William Harvey

Described the circulation of blood to and from the heart

Hippocrates

The father of medicine

Helped establish that disease is caused by natural causes, not supernatural spirits and demons.

Best known for authoring a code of conduct for physicians, the “Hippocrates Oath.” Most schools of medicine still use some form of the oath, and it is a rite of passage to practicing medicine in many countries.

Edward Jenner

Developed a vaccine for smallpox in 1796

Robert Koch

Developed the culture plate method to identify pathogens

Isolated the bacteria that caused tuberculosis

Joseph Lister

Began using disinfectants and antiseptics during surgery

Gregory Mendel

Established the patterns of heredity

Florence Nightingale

Founder of modern nursing

She fought for the reform of military hospital and for improved medical care.

Encouraged efficiency and cleanliness in hospitals, and her efforts decreased the patient death rate by two thirds

Started the Nightingale Training School for nurses at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London

Louis Pasteur

“Father of microbiological sciences and immunology”

Began pasteurizing milk to kill bacteria, and proved heat could destroy harmful germs

Developed the germ theory and discovered processes of pasteurization, vaccination, and fermentation

Germ theory proved that microorganisms cause most infectious diseases

Pasteur’s principles for sanitation helped control the spread of disease and provide ideas on how to prevent disease

Created a vaccine for ravies in 1885

Rhazes

An Arab physician who began the use of animal gut for suture material

William Roentgen

Discovered X-rays in 1895

Jonas Salk

Developed the polio vaccine in 1952

Chinese

Used acupuncture to relieve pain and congestion

Dark Ages

Emphasis was placed on saving the soul and study of medicine was prohibited. Prayer and divine intervention were used to treated illness and disease

Individuals again lived in unsanitary conditions and epidemics of smallpox, dysentery, typhus, and plague were rampant.

Egyptians

Earliest people known to maintain accurate health records

Romans

Began public health and sanitation systems.

Aqueducts, swerves, filtering systems, and drained marshes prevented from disease

First to organize medical care by providing care for injured soldiers.

Renaissance

“Rebirth of the science of medicine”

Dissection of the body allowed better understanding of anatomy and physiology

First anatomy book published

Lifespan began to increase

Greeks

Began modern medicinal science by observing the human body and effects of disease

Stressed diet and cleanliness as ways to prevent disease

Ancient Times

Thought that illnesses and diseases were caused by evil spirits and treatment focused on eliminating the evil spirits.

Common belief that illnesses and diseases were punishments from the gods, and religious rites and ceremonies were frequently used.

Foxglove plant

Used to make digoxin

Willow bark

Origin of aspirin

Trepanation or trephining

Boring a hole in the skull

Primitive times released evil spirits, modern times relieves pressure

George Washington's cause of death

Epiglottitis and blood letting

Leeches

Used in ancient times for blood letting, today used after microsurgery to help blood with blood circulation.

21st Century

During this time period we see Human Genome project , growth in geriatric population and shorter hospital stays

Bubonic Plague (Black Death)

Killed almost 75 percent of the population of Europe and Asia.

Andreas Vesalius

Published the first anatomy book