History of Medicine-Abi Howington

By Abi Howington
  • 4000 BCE

    Primitive Times

    Primitive Times
    Having an Illness was spiritual and a religious thing, not a medical thing. Herbs and plants were used as medicines. Back then, they did Trepanation which removed part of your skull. Their lifespan was 20 years.
  • 3000 BCE

    Ancient Egyptians

    Ancient Egyptians
    Physicians were priests during this time and the Ancient Egyptians were the first to record health records. They used medical treatments of bloodletting and leeches. The life span was around 20-30 years old.
  • 1700 BCE

    Ancient Chinese

    Ancient Chinese
    The ancient Chinese believed in full body treatment and curing the spirit. They used herbs as medications and therapies such as acupuncture. They were curious about the medical reason for illness. 20-30 year average lifespan.
  • 1200 BCE

    Ancient Greeks

    Ancient Greeks
    Hippocrates were the father of medicine and they were the 1st to observe the human body and the effects of disease which they thought was the result of natural causes. Massage, art, and herbal treatment were all therapies they used. They also said that diet, hygiene, and exercise could prevent disease. Life span 25-35 years.
  • 753 BCE

    Ancient Romans

    Ancient Romans
    They would provide medical care for soldiers. Hospitals were religious and charitable institutions in monasteries and convents. They had sanitation systems like sewers and ducts. They believed our four body humors were blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. Life span was 25-35 years.
  • 400

    Dark Ages

    Dark Ages
    Going backward in our progress, they believed they needed to save the soul as they prohibited the study of medicine. They treated illness through prayer. Medications were mainly herbal mixtures, and the average human life span was 20-30 years old.
  • 800

    The Middle Ages

    The Middle Ages
    1100 was when Arabs began requiring people to pass examinations and obtain licenses to become physicians. The Bubonic Plague happened in 1346-1353, and it killed 75% of the population in Europe and Asia.
    Major diseases included smallpox, diphtheria, tuberculosis, typhoid, etc.
    Medical Universities were established in 1220
    The average life span was 20-35 years.
  • 1350

    Renaissance

    Renaissance
    It was considered the rebirth of Science and Medicine. They understood anatomy and physiology better by doing body dissections. They invented the printing press in 1440. They published the 1st anatomy book in 1543. Life span was 30-40 years and the cause of disease is still a mystery.
  • 1500

    16th and 17th Centuries

    16th and 17th Centuries
    They learned a lot more about the human body. In the 1500's the Father of Modern Surgery established the use of ligatures to stop bleeding. In the 1600’s Apothecaries made, prescribed, and sold medications. The microscope was invented in 1670 and it was a huge advancement. An average life span was 35-45 years.

  • 18th century

    18th century
    Many things happened in the 18th century.
    1714: Gabriel Fahrenheit created the first mercury thermometer
    1760: Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals
    1778: John Hunter established scientific surgical procedures and introduced tube feeding
    1798: Smallpox vaccine discovered
    Average life span 40-50 years

  • 19th Century

    19th Century
    There were some rapid advancements like the X-ray machine (1895), the first open heart surgery (1893), the invention of the stethoscope (1816), formal training for nurses began (1860), and women became active participants in healthcare. These happened because of the discoveries of microorganisms, anesthesia, and vaccinations.

  • 20th Century

    20th Century
    The 20th century had rapid growth in health care. They discovered the different types of blood groups, developed new medicines and machines, figured out the DNA structure, did the first bone marrow transplants, discovered test tube babies, and did organ transplants with kidneys, livers, hearts, etc. They also made vaccines for the common diseases we know today like oral polio, chicken pox, measles, etc.

  • 20th-21st Century – Top 10

    20th-21st Century – Top 10
    Towards the end of the 20th century, they created targeted Cancer therapies like chemo. In 1990, they made Smoke Free Laws. 1996 was the advancement in HIV Medication. In 1999, there were rapid advances in Stem Cell Research. In the 21st century, the first totally implantable artificial heart was placed in a patient in Louisville, KY (2001). The Human Genome Project Completed (2003), and there were face transplants (2005). Normal Life Span. A few more vaccines were also created.