Medical History Timeline

By sarahlovesjake
  • Invention of the Printing Press
    Jan 1, 1440

    Invention of the Printing Press

    A printing press is a device for evenly printing ink onto a print medium such as paper or cloth. The device applies pressure to a print medium that rests on an inked surface made of moveable type, thereby transferring the ink.German inventor Johannes Gutenberg invented a printing press.
  • Christopher Columbus discovers America
    Jan 1, 1492

    Christopher Columbus discovers America

    Christopher Columbus set of on hopes to find "Asia" voyaging on three ships, the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. After landing in the Bahamas, Christopher Columbus finished his journey and discovered America in 1492.
  • Invention of the Microscope

    Invention of the Microscope

    A microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. Dutch lens grinder Zacharius Jannssen invents the mircoscope.

  • Dr. Robert Lower is credited with performing the first successful direct blood transfusion on a human being.

  • James Lind , a Scottish naval surgeon, discovers that citrus fruits prevent scurvy.

  • Oxygen first prepared by the Swedish chemist Scheele.

  • Vaccine for smallpox developed

    Vaccine for smallpox developed

    The smallpox vaccine was the first successful vaccine to be developed. Edward Jenner developed the vacination in 1796. Prior to widespread vaccination, mortality rates in individuals with smallpox were high—up to 35% in some cases.
  • The Lousiana Purchase

    The Lousiana Purchase

    The United States purchased more than 2 million square kilometers of land from France, in 1803.

  • René Laënnec invents the stethoscope

  • British obstetrician James Blundell performs the first successful transfusion of human blood.

  • Louis Pasteur creates first Vaccine for Rabies

  • Elizabeth Blackwell is the first woman to receive a medical degree from Geneva Medical College in Geneva, New York.

  • Period: to

    Civil War

  • The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

    The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

    Lincoln was assassinated at a theater in Washington DC, by John Wilkes Booth.
  • Invention of Anestheic

    Invention of Anestheic

    William T.G. Morton demonstrated a substance powerful enough to dull the pain and agony that had long been associated with surgery.
  • Invention of the lightbulb

    Invention of the lightbulb

    Thomas Alva Edison invented the first lightbulb
  • Opening of The American Red Cross

    Opening of The American Red Cross

    Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881. The American Red Cross, also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States.

  • Louis Pastuer creates the first Vaccine for Anthrax

  • Discovery of X-rays

    Discovery of X-rays

    X-rays were discovered by William Roentgen in 1895. The use of X-rays for medical purposes was started by John Hall-Edwards in Birmingham, England. Then in 1908, he had to have his left arm amputated because of the spread of X-ray dermatitis on his arm.

  • Almroth Edward Wright creates first Vaccine for Typhoid Fever

  • Felix Hoffman develops asprin

    Asprin was created from the juice in willow tree bark.

  • Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins suggests the existence of vitamins and concludes they are essential to health.

  • Isolation of Radium

    Isolation of Radium

    Marie Curie isolated radium in 1910.

  • Insulin first used to treat diabetes.

  • Discovery of Penicillin

    Discovery of Penicillin

    Sir Alexander Fleming dicovered Penicillin in 1928.

  • Bernard Fantus stars the first Blood Bank

  • Period: to

    World War II

  • Beginning of Induced Labor

    Beginning of Induced Labor

    Women and healers have practiced the induction of labor for centuries. Inducing the labor may have been tried, and / or achieved, by using herbs, tonics, remedies or exercises. It was not until the 1940's that medical drugs were developed to start labor.
  • Polio Vaccine

    Polio Vaccine

    Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine in 1952. The vaccine have eliminated polio from most countries in the world and reduced the worldwide incidence from an estimated 350,000 cases in 1988 to 1,652 cases in 2007.

  • Paul Zoll develops the first cardiac pacemaker to control irregular heartbeat.

  • Assassination if John F, Kennedy

    Assassination if John F, Kennedy

    John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m.on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas.

  • Maurice Hilleman creates the first Vaccination for Measels created

  • South African heart surgeon Dr. Christiaan Barnard performs the first human heart transplant.

  • Apollo 11 Landed on The Moon

    Apollo 11 Landed on The Moon

  • Introduction of computerized axial tomography, the "CAT-scanner."

  • First Test Tube Baby

    First Test Tube Baby

    Louise Brown created the first test tube baby on July 25th, 1978 in England.

  • World Health Organization, announces smallpox is eradicated.

  • GlaxoSmithKline creates first vaccine for Lymes Disease

  • Terrorist Attack on The United States

    Terrorist Attack on The United States

    Plane attacks on the Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon. The attacks on September 11th, changed the views of most Americans on airport security, muslims and the war on terror.

  • Scientists discover how to use human skin cells to create embryonic stem cells.