Unlocking The History of

Medicine

Primitive Times

Believed that illness and diseases were a punishment from the Gods

First physicians were witch doctors who treated illness with ceremonies

Primitive Times

Herbs and plants were used as medicineexamples:– Foxglove plants leaves were chewed to strengthen & slow heart– Now given by pills, IV, or injections

Trepanation One of the first

surgeries A hole was cut into

the skull to release demons

What are some of the possible complications of this treatment?

Egyptians First to keep accurate health records Wrote prescriptions on papyrus Physicians were priests Temples were used as places of worships, medical schools, and hospitals

Egyptians (3000 BC- 300 BC)

Embalming led to increased understanding of anatomy and diseases

Was done by special priests, not doctor priests

Gauze used to wrap bodies is much like the surgical gauze used today

Strong antiseptics kept bodies from decaying

Egyptians (3000 BC- 300 BC) Leeches would be use for

bloodletting (draining human blood)

Does not hurt because their saliva contains a natural anesthetic

Their saliva also contains a blood thinner, a vasodilator, and an agent that prevents bacteria from infecting the wound

FDA has recently approved use of leeches as a medical treatment.

Ancient Chinese (1700 BC–AD 220)

Religion prohibited dissection

Believed you had to treat both the body and spirit

Recorded a pharmacopoeia of medications based on herbs

Therapies included acupuncture

Greeks (1200 BC –200 BC)

Made observations about the human body and the effects of disease that led to modern medical sciences

Believed illness is a result of natural causes

Greeks (1200 BC –200 BC)

Used therapies such as massage, art therapy and herbal treatments

Discovered that diet and cleanliness could prevent disease

Romans (753 BC – AD 410) They established

the first public health and sanitation systems by building sewers and aqueducts

Treated disease with diet, exercise, and medication

Romans (753 BC – AD 410)

Rooms in doctors houses where they cared for solders became the first hospitals

Believed body was regulated by 4 humors that had to stay balanced to prevent illness (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile)

Dark Ages (AD 400 – AD 800) Study of medicine

was prohibited Emphasis was on

saving the soul Monks and priests

treated patients with prayer

Middle Ages (AD 800 –AD 1400)

Bubonic Plague killed 75% of the population in Europe and Asia

Medical Universities were created

There was renewed interest in medical practices of the Greek and Romans

Middle Ages (AD 800 –AD 1400)

Arab physicians used chemistry to advance pharmacology

Arabs begin requiring physicians to pass examinations and obtain licenses

Renaissance (AD 1350–AD 1650)

Dissection of the body led to an increased understanding of anatomy and physiology

Invention of the printing press allowed medical knowledge to be shared.

First anatomy book by Andreas Vesalius, was published

16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries Invention of the

microscope in 1666 allowed doctors to see disease-causing organisms

Apothecaries led to development of pharmacies

16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries Edward Jenner developed the first

vaccination to prevent the spread of smallpox in 1796

19th Century Formal training for

nurses led by Florence Nightingale began

Infection control methods were developed once microorganisms were associated with disease

20th Century Gained an increased knowledge about the

role of blood in the body: ABO blood groups discovered Determined how white blood cells protect against

disease

20th Century New medicines were

developed:– Insulin to treat diabetes– Antibiotics to fight

infections caused by bacteria

– Vaccines to prevent people from getting diseases caused by viruses

20th Century New machines were

developed:– Kidney dialysis

machine– Heart lung

machine– Computerized

axial tomography (CAT) scan

20th Century Surgical and diagnostic

techniques were developed to cure once fatal conditions:

Organ transplants Limbs reattached Test tube babies Amniocentesis Implanted first artificial

heart

20th Century Health care plans

developed to help pay the cost of health care

Medicare and Medicaid marked the entry of the federal government into the health care arena

HMO’s provided an alternative to private insurance

Hospice was organized

16th-18th Centuries Medical Advances

Cause of diseases 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

19th Century Medical Advances Formal training for nurses began. Infection control developed once

microorganisms were associated with diseases.

Viruses discovered in 1892. Women became active participants in health

care.

20th Century Medical Advances: Blood

Increased knowledge about the role of blood in the body.

ABO blood groups discovered. Discovery of white blood cells protection

against diseases

20th Century Medical Advances: Medications

Insulin was used to treat diabetes. Antibiotics used to fight infections. Vaccines for immunizations

20th Century Medical Advances: Machines

Kidney Dialysis Heart Lung

20th Medical Advances: Surgical and Diagnostic Techniques

Organ transplants Test tubes babies Implantation of the artificial heart

20th Century Medical Advances: Health Insurance Plans

Medicare and Medicaid-entry of the federal government into the health care arena.

HMOs provided an alternative to private insurance.

Hospice was organized.

Historical Contributions Hippocrates (460-377 BC) Greek physician “Father of Medicine” Hippocratic Oath-authored code of conduct

for physicians that is based on medical practices.

Believed illness were not caused by evil spirits and stressed importance of good diet, fresh air, cleanliness and exercise.

Historical Contributions Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) Invented the microscope that allowed

visualization or organisms. Scraped his teeth and observed the bacteria

that causes tooth decay.

Historical Contributions Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Invented bifocals Found that colds could be passed from

person to person (communicable).

Historical Contributions Edward Jenner (1749-1823) Developed the Smallpox vaccine

Historical Contributions Rene Laennec (1781-1826) Invented the stethoscope in 1819. First stethoscope was made of wood.

Historical Contributions Elizabeth Blackwell-First female physician

in the US (1849)

Historical Contributions Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) The “Founder of Modern Nursing” Established efficient and sanitary nursing

units during the Crimean War in 1854. Invented the call bell system and used of

dumbwaiters to deliver meals to soldiers. Began the professional education of nurses.

Historical Contributions Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) The “Father of Microbiology” Germ Theory proved the microorganism

caused disease. Proved that heat can be used to destroy germ

via pasteurization Developed Rabies vaccine in 1885 Established basis rules for sterilization.

Historical Contributions Joseph Lister (1827-1912) Used Carbolic Acid on wounds to kill

germs. First physician to use an antiseptic during

surgery.

Historical Contributions Clara Barton (1821-1912) Volunteer nurse for wounded soldiers

during the Civil War. Established a bureau or records to search

for missing soldiers. Campaigned for the US to sign the Treaty

of Geneva. Founded the American Red Cross in 1881.

Historical Contributions Robert Koch (1843-1910) Developed cultural plates method to

identify pathogens. Isolated the bacterium that caused

Tuberculosis.

Historical Contributions Wilhelm Roentgen (1845-1923) Discovered roentgenograms (X-rays) 1895. Used wife’s hand for X-Ray discovery. Allowed physicians to see inside the body.

Historical Contributions Sigmund Freud (1836-1939) Discovered the conscious and unconscious

part of the mind. Studies were the basis for Psychology and

Psychiatry.

Historical Contributions Sir Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) Discovered Penicillin in 1928-considered

one of the most important discoveries of the 20th century.

Historical Contributions Jonas Salk (1914-1995) Albert Sabin (1906-1993) Discovered Polio vaccine. Saved many people from the virus that

paralyzed thousands of adults and children.

Historical Contributions Francis Crick and James Watson Described the structure of DNA and how it

carries genetic information in 1953. Built a three-dimensional model of the

molecules of DNA. Won/shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962.

Historical Contributions Christian Barnard Performed the first successful heart

transplant in 1968 (South Africa)

Historical Contributions Benjamin Carson Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns

Hopkins University. Famous for separating conjoined Siamese

twins. Refined the hemispherectomy-surgery on

the brain to stop seizure activity.

The End