Medical Milestones

By beccasanders2000
  • First transfusion of human blood

    First transfusion of human blood

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

    Viruses are discovered

    Dimitri Ivanosky discovered viruses, however Ivanovski probably did not grasp the full meaning of his discovery. Beijerinck, in 1898, was the first to call them 'viruses'.
  • Penicillin was discovered

    Penicillin was discovered

    Alexander Flamings discovered Penicillin, an antibiotic used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria such as pneumonia, scarlet fever, and ear, skin, and throat infections
  • First dialysis machine

    First dialysis machine

    William J. Koldd built the first dialysis machine. He used it in World War II and had to hide it from the Nazi security.
  • First successful open heart surgery

    First successful open heart surgery

    John Lewis and Walton Lillehei preformed the first successful open heart surgery.
  • First pacemaker

    First pacemaker

    First pacemaker was implanted by Dr. Rune Elmqvist, although it was first invented in 1952
  • First human lung transplant

    First human lung transplant

    Dr. James Hardy preformed the first human lung transplant in Jackson, MS
  • First human heart transplant

    First human heart transplant

    Dr. Chistiaan Barnard performed the first human heart transplant in South Africa.
  • Genetic fingerprinting

    Genetic fingerprinting

    Dr. Alec Jefferys made genetic fingerprinting available to the public, helping aid in forensics and crime labs.
  • Stem Cells

    Stem Cells

    Scientist discover how to use human skin cells to create embryonic stem cells.