Health History: Jafet Rios

Primitive Time

3000 BCE

Believed that illness and diseased were caused by supernatural spirits and demons.
Tribal witch doctors treated illness with ceremonies to drive out evil spirits
herbs and plants used as medicines and some are still used today
Trepanation or trephining was used to treat insanity and epilepsy
Average life span was 20 to 30 years

Ancient Egyptians

300 BCE

Earliest people known to maintain accurate health records.
Called upon the gods to heal them when disease occurred.
Physicians were priest who studied medicine and surgery in temple medical schools.
Imhotep may have been the first physician.
Average life span was 20 to 30 years

Ancient Chinese

220 BCE

Religious prohibitions against dissection resulted inadequate knowledge of body structure.
Carefully monitored the pulse to determine the condition of the body.
Believed in the need to treat the whole body by curing the spirit and nourishing the body
Used acupuncture or puncture of the skin by needles
Average life span was 20-30 years

Ancient Greeks

200 BCE

Developed an organized method to observe the human body
Recorded signs and symptoms of many diseases
Created a high standard of ethics
Aristotle dissected animals and is called the founder of comparative
Began modern medical science by observing the human body

Ancient Romans

410

Established first hospital (caring for solders in their homes
First public health and sanitation systems by building sewers and aqueducts
Average life span 25-35 years

Dark Ages

800

Began after the fall of the Roman Empire
Emphasis on saving the soul and study of medicine was prohibited
Monks and priests treated patients with prayer
Average life span 20-30 years

Middle Ages

1400

Renewed interest in medical practices of Greek and Romans
Bubonic Plague killed 75% of population in Europe and Asia
Average life span 20-35 years

16th and 17th Century

1600

Cause of disease still not known – many people died from infections
Invention of the microscope allowed physicians to see disease-causing organisms.
Apothecaries led to development of pharmacies
First vaccination developed – smallpox
Average life span 35-45 years

Renaissance

1650

Dissection of body led to increased understanding of anatomy and physiology
Invention of printing press allowed medical knowledge to be shared
Average life span 30-40 years

18th and 19th Century

1900

Formal training for nurses began
Infection control developed once microorganisms were associated with disease
Viruses discovered in 1892
Women became active participants in health care
Average life span 40-60 years