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2000 BCE
Earliest Human Beings
The earliest known human beings often learned by trial and error to distinguish between what was good or what was bad for them to consume or touch. Early man often linked disease and unexpected accidents to magical spirits that would punish individuals when made angry. -
1800 BCE
First Bathrooms and Drains
The earliest discovered usage of bathrooms and drains were located in India. Minoans and the Mycenaean also had drainage systems, toilets, and water flushing systems. -
1600 BCE
Smith Papyri
The Smith Papyri are the oldest written documents related to healthcare that have been found. The describe various surgical techniques. -
1550 BCE
Code of Hammurabi
Earliest written record concerning public health is the Code of Hammurabi. -
1500 BCE
First written Hygienic Code
The Hebrews built off of the Egyptian hygienic thought and created what is thought to be the worlds first hygienic code. -
1000 BCE
Greek Culture
The Greek culture was the first to put as much emphasis on the prevention of disease as they did on the treatment of disease. -
460 BCE
Hippocrates
Hippocrates developed a theory of disease causation consistent with the philosophy of nature held by leading philosophers of his day. -
300 BCE
Roman Empire
The Roman empire built an extensive an efficient aqueduct system. -
500
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages was a time of political and social unrest that severely effected the state of health of the common people. Christians came to believe that the body is the soul's earthly dwelling, permitting better care of it. Christians also reinforced the beleif that disease was caused by disobeying God. Advancments of health related benefits discovered by the Greco-Roman era were abandoned and shunned, many libraries were burned and destroyed. -
Jan 1, 1050
Leprosy
Leprosy was a disease characterized by severe facial and extremity disfigurement, it was highly contagious and virulent. All of the Western countries banned anyone suspected of having leprosy. -
Jan 1, 1075
The Black Death
The bubonic plague could be the most the most severe epidemic the world has ever known to this day. The number of deaths caused by this epidemic beats any war, famine, or natural disaster . -
Sep 16, 1500
The Renaissance Period
The Renaissance was a period and health and medical advancements. Much surgery and dentistry was performed by barbers because they had the best chairs and sharpest instruments available. -
Pollution Prevention
Massachusetts Bay Colony enacted regulations to prevent pollution of Boston Harbor. -
Age of Enlightenment
The 1700s had many breakthroughs in common health and hygiene. The general beleif was that disease was formed in filth and that epidemics were caused by some type of poison that developed in the putrefaction process. -
Dr. James Lind
Dr. James Lind, of the Royal Navy, discovered that scurvy (seas sickness) can be controlled on long sea voyages by having sailors consume lime juice. -
Public Health Service
The federal government started a public health service. -
Edwin Chadwick
Edwin Chadwick published his "Report on an Inquiry into the Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population of Great Britain". In this report, the deplorable living conditions of Britain's laboring class were documented and there was a strong case made that the conditions were the cause of much disease and suffering. -
Dr. John Snow
John Snow studied epidemiology, he hypothesized that disease was caused by microorganisms in the drinking water from one particular pump located on Broad street. He removed the handle to the pump to keep people from using it and the epidemic abated. -
Lemuel Shattuck
Lemuel Shattuck wrote the "Report of the Sanitary Commission of Massachusetts", it contained insights about the public health issues of Massachusetts. -
Louis Pasteur
Louis Pasteur of France proposed his germ theory of disease. -
Joseph Lister
Joseph Lister, English surgeon developed the antiseptic method of treating wounds by using carbolic acid. -
Tuberculosis
The National Association for the study and prevention of Tuberculosis was established. -
APHA
The Public Health Education Section of the APHA was founded.