Medical Milestone Timeline

First Doctors [3000 BC]

Jan 1, 1260

3000 BC - During this time, the first few doctors called Sekhet-eanac healed the pharos nostrils. (People have no idea what was wrong with them)

The Egyptian Imhotep [2600 BC]

Jan 1, 1280

2600 BC - The Egyptian Imhotep describes the diagnosis and treatment of 200 diseases. the second king of Egypt’s third dynasty, who was later worshipped as the god of medicine in Egypt and in Greece, where he was identified with the Greek god of medicine, Asclepius.

First Medical Book [1500 BC]

Jan 1, 1300

1500 BC - The earliest known medical book was written. It was called Ebers Papyrus

Birth of Hippocrates [460 BC]

Jan 1, 1310

460 BC - Birth of Hippocrates, Greek physician and founder of the first university. Considered the father of medicine. Hippocrates bases medicine on objective observation and deductive reasoning, although he does accept the commonly held belief that disease results from an imbalance of the four bodily humors(an idea that persists for centuries). the Greek father of

Plato's View of the Soul [387 BCE]

Jan 1, 1320

387 BCE - Plato suggested that the brain is the seat of mental processes. Plato's view of the "soul" (self) is that the body exists to serve the soul: "God created the soul before the body and gave it precedence both in time and value, and made it the dominating and controlling partner." from Timaeus

The Dead Sea Scrolls [ca. 100 BCE]

Jan 1, 1340

ca. 100 BCE – The Dead Sea Scrolls noted the division of human nature into two temperaments

The Book of Remedies [4th-8th century BCE]

Jan 1, 1360

4th-8th century BCE - Up until the time of King Chizkiyahu (his reign being dated to approximately 2,500 y.a.), a text - Sefer Refuot ("The Book of Remedies") was composed and used extensively for at least 300 years until King Chizkiyahu time. The book discusses illnesses, treatments and prevention. Some of the ideas are still used today, such as exercise, eating healthy food, and staying clean.

Father of Anatomy [280]

Jan 1, 1400

280 - At this time cadaver dissection is allowed at the anatomy school in Alexandria. Herophilus, a Greek physician and early “Father of Anatomy,” studies the nervous system, reproductive organs, and blood vessels.

Aristotle and Paradigms [322-384]

Jan 1, 1420

322-384: Aristotle distinguishes between arteries and veins. He relies on teaching anatomy through “paradigms, schemata and diagrams” as well as animal dissection rather than the use of human cadavers.

Dissection of Monkeys [A.D 129]

Jan 1, 1440

A.D 129-Galen a greek physician, dissected monkeys, because monkeys are the closest related to humans. Through this he found out more about the human body.

Galen [A.D 162]

Jan 1, 1450

A.D 162- Galen became an expert in human anatomy and later moved on to dissect corpses.

Diseases [400 A.D]

Jan 1, 1460

400 A.D - Progressive diseases occurred in Europe
400 A.D - Black Death, Smallpox, Diphtheria, Syphilis, Measles, Typhoid fever, Tuberculosis all occurred.

Herbs and Plants [476 A.D]

Jan 1, 1470

476 A.D- People started using herbs and plants to make medicine.

The Spread of Diseases [1095 A.D]

Jan 1, 1480

1095 A.D- Crusaders spread diseases because of traveling to different countries and coming back to their homeland.

Rhazes [900 A.D]

Jan 1, 1490

900 A.D.- Rhazes, An Arabic Doctor was the first doctor to identify the difference between smallpox and measles
900 A.D. - Started to build hospitals

Black Plague [920 A.D]

Jan 1, 1500

920 A.D- Black Plague killed 75% of Europe and Asia

William Harvey [1578 A.D]

Jan 1, 1510

1578 A.D- An English doctor named William Harvey found out that the heart recycles blood and acts through a pump to circulate it throughout the body through veins.

Body Dissections [1350 A.D]

Jan 1, 1520

1350 A.D- People found ways to dissect bodies. Built universities for Medicine. Published Medical Books.

500 Treatises [130 C.E]

Jan 1, 1580

130 C.E Galen published 500 treatises

Circulation of Blood

Jan 1, 1600

William Harvey was able to observe and study the circulation of blood. He mapped out the entire body and the way the body circulates blood. He studied throughout his lifetime. Died on June 3, 1657

First Successful Blood Transfusion

Jan 1, 1667

In 1667, Jean Denis completed the first successful blood transfusion on a 15 year old boy. He inserted half a pint of lamb blood and the boy felt much better.

First Microscope

Jan 1, 1676

Anton van Leeuwenhoek invented the microscope and was able to observe microorganisms in 1676.

Biblical Medicine

Jan 1, 1700

1700 - The first organized study of Biblical medicine began during the 17th century

Discovery of Oxygen

Jan 1, 1774

Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen in its pure, ghastly state in 1774. This allowed more research in the why we need oxygen and what affects it does to the body.

First Smallpox Vaccine

May 17, 1796

Edward Jenner discovered the smallpox vaccination in 1796. He was called the “father of immunology” and the vaccination reduced smallpox drastically until it was finally eradicated in 1980.

Invention of the Stethoscope

Jan 1, 1816

Rene Laennec invented the stethoscope in 1816. The stethoscope revolutionized medical practices by allowing doctors to assess the patients cardiovascular function without being invasive with the body.

Discovery of X-rays

Jan 1, 1895

Wilhelm Roentgen discovered X-rays in 1895 by detecting electromagnetic radiation through a series of wavelengths now called X-rays. This allowed doctors to assess the patient's entire body without being invasive. He won the first Nobel Peace prize in physics in 1901.

Introduction of the Pap Smear

Jan 1, 1923

Dr. George Papanicolaou first proposes the “pap smear” (pap test, a procedure to test for cervical cancer) but it was not accepted till 1945.

Discovery of Pencillin

Jan 1, 1928

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 by accident. This resulted in people being able to treat once deadly diseases such as meningitis. Now, penicillin is the most widely used antibiotic in the world.

Discovery of Streptomycin

Oct 19, 1944

Dr. Selman Waksman of Rutgers University (NJ) discovers streptomycin (a drug that can kill the bacteria causing tuberculosis.

Polio Vaccine

Jul 25, 1953

Dr. Jonas Salk successfully tests a polio vaccine on a small group of children. After extensive testing, Salk announces the results on April 12, 1955, and the vaccine is licensed for use.

Successful Open Heart Surgery

Sep 2, 1953

Surgeons perform the first successful open heart bypass surgery, using a heart-lung machine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.

Silent Spring

Mar 13, 1962

Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, showing the risk of pesticide use to humans and wildlife, causing the ban on DDT (a commonly used pesticide for insect control now banned in many countries due to disturbance in the food chain.

AIDS

Jan 1, 1981

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a new disease when symptoms are noted in many young men in New York and Los Angeles

Vaccines Against H.P.V

Jan 1, 2006

Two vaccines are introduced to protect against H.P.V. (Viruses that can cause cervical cancer and genital warts) which is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States.