Medical

History of Medicine

By 16georc
  • Hippocrates is born.
    460

    Hippocrates is born.

    Greek physician and founded the first university. "Father of medicine".
  • The microscope is invented

    The microscope is invented

    A Dutch lens grinder Zacharius Jannssen invented the microscope.
  • Book published about blood flow.

    Book published about blood flow.

    William Harvey published "An Anatomical Study of the Motion of the Heart and of the Blood in Animals" describing the circulatory system of blood throughout the body.
  • Experiments on dogs lead to blood transfusions.

    Experiments on dogs lead to blood transfusions.

    Sir Christoper Wren experiments with administering medications through an IV, by using an animal bladder attached to a sharpened quill. Wren is curious about blood transfusions using dogs.
  • Blood cells and micro-organisisms are discovered

    Blood cells and micro-organisisms are discovered

    While refining the microscope, Anton van Leeuwenhoek discovers and observes blood cells along with animal and plant microorganisms.
  • Surgen discvers prevention for scurvy.

    Surgen discvers prevention for scurvy.

    James Lind discovers that citrus fruits prevent scurvy, in 1754 he discovers a cure for this common and dangerous disease among sailors.
  • Vaccine for smallpox is discovered.

    Vaccine for smallpox is discovered.

    The vaccination is discovered by Edward Jenner. He learned by exposing a person to the dairymaid's cowpox then exposing the patient to smallpox six weeks later, they didn't become infected.
  • Anesthetics are recognized.

    Anesthetics are recognized.

    Sir Humphry Davy learns of a gas, nitrous oxide, and experiments with the anesthetic properties of the gas. This is not used for anethestics for another 45 years.
  • Invention of the stethoscope.

    Invention of the stethoscope.

    The stethoscope was invented by Rene Laennec.
  • First successful human blood transfusion.

    First successful human blood transfusion.

    The first successful human blood transfusion was preformed by James Blundell.
  • X-rays are discovered

    X-rays are discovered

    Wilhelm Conrad Roetgen discovers x-rays.
  • Blood compatibility and rejection is discovered

    Blood compatibility and rejection is discovered

    Karl Landsteiner describes what happens when two uncompatible blood types combine. He forms the ABO system of blood typing. He recieved the 1930 Nobel Prized or Physiology or Medicine.

  • Penicillin is discovered.

    Sir Alexander Fleming discoveres penicillin and recieves the 1945 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine.
  • First blood bank is opened.

    First blood bank is opened.

    Bernard Fantus starts the first blood bank at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, using a 2% solution of sodium citrate to preserve the blood. Refrigerated blood lasts ten days.

  • First test tube baby is born.

    Louise Joy Brown was the first human to be born after conception by in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
  • Human cells used to vreate embryonic cells.

    Human cells used to vreate embryonic cells.

    Scientists discover how to use human skin cells to create embryonic stem cells.
  • Germ Theory of Disease is established.

    Germ Theory of Disease is established.

    Established by Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch, they discovered that a specific disease is caused by a specific organism, not spontaneous generation.
  • Operating rooms are disinfected.

    Operating rooms are disinfected.

    Joseph Lister is to credit for the idea of ensuring cleanliness of the operating room. After sterilizing everything before and after each surgery death from infections went down from 60% to just 4%.
  • Smallpox is identified.

    Smallpox is identified.

    Rhazes, is the the first to identify smallpox, distiguished from measles and to suggest the cause is infectious blood.