History Of Medicine - Hope Sagan

4000 BC- 3000 BC Primitive Times

1 CE

Illness was heavily related to polytheistic beliefs and the medicine practitioners often came to the diagnosis that evil spirits and demons would make them sick, or a punishment from God was the cause of their illness. Their prognosis often resulted in herbs or other oil-induced "medicine" to heal them. Because of the lack of actual medical practice and hygiene, the lifespan of humans was 20 years or less.

3000 BC - 300 BC Ancient Egyptians

2

Medical Practitioners around this time were priests as well, but they were the first area in this era to actually record medical history. Unlike the Primitive Times, the Egyptians knew that the illness wasn't because of a religious belief, knowing this, they resorted to leeches, to such the blood or illness out of their body. their lifespan was about 20-30 years.

1700 BC - AD 220 Ancient Chinese

3

The Ancient Chinese were aware that it wasn't just the spirit that needed nourishment when someone was ill, they knew that the body needed to be replenished as well. They resorted to acupuncture therapy and herbs. They used the herbs to let the natural vitamins and nourishment to fight off any illness. They used acupuncture, probably to release any muscle tension so that the body could relax. They were the first place to search for solutions medically and not spiritually.

1200 BC - 200 BC Ancient Greece

5

The first place to believe that diseases were followed by medical sciences. They also believed that diseases were caused naturally. They used their natural herbal and artistic therapy to treat patients. The Ancient Greeks were the first people to highly stress hygienic practices to reduce illness. The average life-span of the Ancient Greeks was 25-35 years.

753 BC - AD 410 Ancient Romans

6

The Ancient Romans were the first to organize medical care for injured soldiers. Later on, hospitals became religious, charitable institutions. They were also the first to organize sewer aqueducts for public health and sanitation. They also established 4 humors in the body that can cause illness. Blood is a symbol of lust, Yellow Bile is a symbol of anger, Mucus is a symbol of slow responsiveness, and finally, Black Bile is a symbol of depression. This was how they decided to treat any illness.

AD 400 - AD 800 Dark Ages

7

In this day in age, people greatly emphasize the prohibition to practice medicine. These people also stepped back into history and religiously practiced prayer and divine worship to cure illnesses and diseases. Priests and Monks also provided custody care to the ill people. There was no drug medication, they strictly used herbs to heal the sick. The average life span was 20-30 years.

AD 800 - AD 1400 Middle Ages

8

Medical Practice licenses were now permitted. However, the Arabs would not allow anyone to practice medicine until they had passed an exam and received their license. At around this time, over 75% of the population died due to the bubonic plague. At around this time, Medical Universities were established. Their lifespan was about 20-35 years.

AD 1350 - AD 1650 Renaissance

9

Science Medicine was rebirthed at this time. Around this time period, doctors began to dissect the human body to further understand the disease and gain a bigger understanding of the human anatomy. The printing press was also invented so because of this medical knowledge could be shared. Andreas Vesalius also created the first medical textbook. The cause of the disease was still a mystery, but the average lifespan was increasing. It was now 30-40 years.

16th + 17th Centuries

10

Knowledge about the human body has greatly increased. The 'Father of Modern Surgery, started to use ligatures to stop bleeding. Pharmacists and Pharmacies became established and sold prescribed drugs responsibly to ill people. During this time, microscopes were invented. This device was a huge advancement in human knowledge. However, while the microscope was enlightening to human knowledge the cause of disease was still unknown. But the average lifespan during this time is 35-45 years.

18th Century

11

During this time, Gabriel Fahrenheit created the first mercury thermometer, Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals, and John Hunter established scientific surgical procedures as well as introduced feeding tubes. During this time as well, the smallpox vaccine was invented, saving thousands of lives. The average lifespan around this time was about 40-50 years.

19th Century

12

Due to the advancements in vaccines, microorganisms, and anesthesia, there was rapid growth in medical knowledge. In the 19th century, the X-ray machine was developed, and the first open-heart-surgery was performed, the stethoscope was also invented and there was formal training for nurses around this time.

20th Century

13

During this time, the ABO blood group was discovered, medications were becoming more and more developed, and the Kidney-Dialysis-Machine and Heart-Lung-Machine were created. The structure of DNA was discovered and research on gene therapy began. During this time as well, the first First-Bone-Marrow transplant was performed, they created test tubes for babies, and finally, they performed organ transplants. Specifically for the kidney, liver, heart, and the artificial heart as well.

20th Century - Vaccines

14

During this time, there were many vaccines created to prevent further illness. Such as Diptheria, Tuberculosis, Pertussis, Typhus, Influenza, Oral Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Chicken Pox, Streptococcus, Pneumonia, Meningitis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, Lyme Disease, and Rotavirus. All of these vaccines were taken by many people to prevent disease.

20th - 21st Century

15

Obviously, this world is becoming more and more advanced and we experience medical phenomenons every day. Some significant ones are, Laparoscopic Surgery, Targeted Cancer Therapies, Smoke-Free Laws, Advances in HIV medication, Rapid Advances in Stem Cell Research, and the first artificial heart was placed in a man from Louisville, The Human Genome Project was completed, and the First Face Transplant was completed.