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Period: 100 to 400
Ancient Times
Life span was only 20-35 years. Hippocrates of Cos (460-379 BC) was the most famous Greek physician. Believed in four humors and treated with diet before med and surgery. -
Period: 400 to Jan 13, 1350
Medieval Times
Christianity ruled against blood shed, in turn lead to practitioners no longer being able to perform surgery. The title "Doctor" became known and major medical legislation was written in 1140 and 1224 that specified a 9-year curriculum with state exams and licenses. Hospitals were built to home the sick. Black Plague of 1348. -
Period: Jan 12, 1350 to
Renaissance
Tremendous growth in inquiry of how the body was structured and how it worked from autopsies. Study of plants increased, which were the main source of drugs-500 new species. Girolsmo Fracastoro wrote a book in 1546 with the theory of contagious diseases. Hygiene wasn't considered important. Printing press was invented, as well as gun powder. -
Period: to
17th Century
Physiology was investigated. William Harvey stated that blood circulates in the body with a network of vessels. In 1666, Anton van Leeuwenhoek invented the microscope. Quinine imported from Peru as a cure for malaria. Study of the brain was of interest, nervous system and stimulation of muscles discovered. -
Period: to
18th Century
Surgery was upgraded from a craft to an experimental science. Techniques for measuring blood pressure and temperature developed. Science of chemistry came to age. Edward Jenner (1749-1823) demostrated hat vaccine with cowpox provides immunity for smallpox -
Period: to
19th Century A.
Industrial Revolution created growth of city populations, hospitals were built to hold more patients. Emphasis moved from individual organs to identification of more specific tissues. Physicians and surgeons were united into one profession. Medical professions developed specialty areas. Lab tests for diagnostic purposes became common. Dentists introduced anesthesia. Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1895) 1st woman MD in US. opened first nursing school in 1860. Nursing became a profession. -
Period: to
19th Century B.
Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) a chemist, proved that specific microorganisms called bacteria are the cause of specific diseases in both humans and animals. Lead to germ theory. Was discovered that infectious bacteria could be carried by various mean. Hospitals went from a place one went to die to hope for recovery. Life span increased from 40 in 1850 to 70 in 1950 -
Period: to
20th Century A.
1921 Karl Landsteiner of Vienna discovered blood groups and made blood transfusion safe. Diabetes was no longer considered fatal and could be managed with injections of insulin. Biomedical engineering was advanced with the invention of the computer. Vitamins were discovered. The US took the leadership role in research. Synthetic drugs were developed to treat specific problems. Life span inceased 70-80 yrs. Mental illnesses increased. -
Period: to
20th Century B
Other health care specialties developed. Causing health care costs increased. Transplantation of organs was now possible. Definition of death was now brain death. First hospice opened in 1967. More accident injuries with growth of faster machines. Traditional medicine primarily based on diagnosis and then treatment with synthetic medications and surgical procedures. 1978-first "test tube" baby. 1981- AIDS was identified as a disease. 1997- First successful cloning of sheep. -
Period: to
21st Century and Beyond--What Is Possible
Vaccine to prevent HIV. Cure for AIDS, obesity, mental illnesses, heart disease, and cancer. Cloning of organs for transplantation. Life span expanding to 100+ years. Less invasive diagnostic and therapeutic treatments and medications with less harmful side effects.