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Believed that illness and disease were caused by supernatural spirits and demons
Tribal witch doctors treated illness with ceremonies to drive out evil spirits
Herbs and plants used as medicines and some are still used today
Trepanation was used to treat insanity and epilepsy
Average lifespan was 20 years -
Earliest people known to maintain accurate health records
Called upon the gods to heal them when disease occurred
Physicians were priests who studied medicine and surgery in temple medical schools
Imhotep may have been the first physician
Used magic and medicinal plants to treat disease
Average lifespan was 20 to 30 years -
Began the search for medical reasons for illness
Used acupuncture
Also used moxibustion
Believed in the need to treat the whole body by curing the spirit and nourishing the body
Carefully monitored pulse
Average lifespan was 20 to 30 years -
Hippocrates called the father of medicine
Believed illness is a result of natural cause
Used therapies such as massages and herbal treatment
Observed the human body and effects of disease
Stressed diet and cleanliness as ways to prevent disease
Average lifespan was 25 to 35 years -
Renewed interest in the medical practice of Greek and Romans
Physicians began to obtain knowledge at medical universities in the 9th century
Arab physicians used their knowledge of chemistry to advance pharmacology
Began the use of animal gut for suture material
Average lifespan was 20 to 35 years -
First to organize medical care by providing care for injured soldiers
Early hospitals developed when physicians cared for ill people in rooms in their homes
Began public health and sanitation systems
Diet, exercise, and medications were used to treat disease
Later hospitals were religious institutions
Average lifespan was 25 to 35 years -
Emphasis was placed on saving the soul and the study of medicine was prohibited
Prayer and divine intervention were used to treat illness and disease
Monks and priests provided custodial care for sick people
Medications were mainly herb mixtures
Average lifespan was 20 to 30 years -
Rebirth of science of medicine
Dissection of the body began to allow a better understanding of anatomy
Development of the printing press
First anatomy book was published
The first book on diabetics was written
Average lifespan was 30 to 40 years -
First successful blood transfusion on animals performed
Scientific societies were established
Mediations began selling
Improved treatment of fractures and promoted use of artificial limbs
Average lifespan was 35 to 45 years -
First mercury thermometer was made
Discovery of the element of oxygen
Introduction of tube feeding
Development of vaccine for smallpox
Establishment of surgical procedures
Average lifespan was 40 to 50 years -
19th
First successful blood transfusion on human
Invention of the stethoscope
Average lifespan was 40 to 60 years
20th
Classification of ABO blood groups
First heart-lung machine was used for open-heart surgery
Average lifespan was 60 to 80 years
21st
Adult stem cells were used in the treatment of disease
First totally implantable artificial heart was placed in a patient
Average lifespan was 90 to 100
