History of Medicine - Ethan Griswold

Primitive Times

4000 BCE

• Illness and disease were believed to be caused by evil spirits/demons.
• Illness was treated with ceremonies.
• Trepanation and herbs/plants were common "remedies" to sickness.
• Average lifespan was 20 years.

Ancient Egyptians

3000 BCE

• Physicians were priests.
• The first medical records were recorded by Egyptians.
• Leeches and bloodletting were methods to treat sickness.
• Average lifespan was 20-30 years.

Ancient Chinese

1700 BCE

• Believed that the spirit and body were connected and that the spirit needed to be cleansed to be healed.
• Therapies such as acupuncture were used.
• Began to search for medical reasons for illness.
• Average lifespan was 20-30 years.

Ancient Greeks

1200 BCE

• Hippocrates and other physicians were introduced.
• First time the human body was observed and the effects of disease were studied.
• Belief that disease is caused by natural forces arose.
• Used therapies such as massage, art therapy, and herbal treatment.
• Stressed diet, hygiene, and exercise as ways to prevent disease. Average lifespan grew to 25-35 years.

Ancient Romans

753 BCE

• Provided medical care for soldiers.
• Hospitals were religious and charitable institutions.
• Sewers and aqueducts were built.
• Galen established the belief that the body was regulated by four body humors; blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile.
• Lifespan was 25-35 years.

Dark Ages

400

• Saving the soul was the purpose, and medicine was prohibited.
• Prayer and divine intention were used to cure sickness.
• Monks and priests provide custodial care for sick people.
• Medications consisted of herbs.
• Average lifespan is 20-30 years.

Middle Ages

800

• Renewed interest in medical practices.
• Arabs began requiring physicians to pass examinations and obtain licenses.
• 75% of Europe and Asia's population were killed by Bubonic Plague.
• Medical universities were introduced.
• Average lifespan was 20-35 years.

Renaissaince

1350

• Rebirth of science and medicine.
• Biopsies were performed to gain a better understanding of the human anatomy.
• Printing press allowed medical knowledge to be shared.
• Anatomy book first published by Andreas Vesalius.
• Average lifespan was 30-40 years.

16th and 17th Centuries

1500

• Knowledge regarding the human body massively increased.
• Ambroise Pare, a French surgeon, known as the Father of Modern Surgery established use of ligatures to stop bleeding.
• Early pharmacists made, prescribed, and sold medications.
• Microscope invented.
• Average life span 35-45 years.

18th Century

1696

• First mercury thermometer invented.
• Bifocals invented by Benjamin Franklin.
• John Hunter established scientific surgical procedures and introduced tube feeding.
• Smallpox vaccine discovered.
• Average lifespan 40-50 years.

19th Century

1800

• Microorganisms, anesthesia, and vaccinations discovered.
• X-rays developed.
• Stethoscope invented.
• Nurses formally trained.
• Average life span 40-60 years.

20th Century

1900

• ABO Blood Groups discovered.
• New medications developed such as insulin and antibiotics.
• Heart lung and kidney dialysis machines developed.
• Structure of DNA discovered and research in gene therapy begins.
• Began bone marrow transplants.
• Test tube babies.
• Organ Transplants.

21st Century

2000

• First artificial heart implanted.
• Human Genome Project Completed.
• Mapped out human diseases in an effort to get an handle on genetic and autoimmune diseases.
• Face transplants.
• More vaccines created.