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Blood groups
Karl Landsteiner introduces the system to classify blood into A, B, AB and O groups. -
Discovery of vitamins
Polish biochemist Casimir Funk identifies vitamins. Funk and Hopkins, another biochemist formulated the vitamin hypothesis of deficiency disease - that a lack of vitamins could make you sick. -
First blood transfusion
The first non-direct blood transfusion was made in 1914 by the Belgian Albert Hustin, who used sodium citrate as a anticoagulant. -
Insulin first used to treat diabetes
Leanord Thompson, a 14-year-old diabetic, was given the first injection of insulin by James Collip. He suffered a severe allergic reaction. Over the next few days Collip worked day and night to improve the extract, and a second dose was injected. This was successful, it completely eliminated the glycosuria sign of diabetes. -
Disovery of penicillin
Penicillin was first discovered in 1928 by bacteriologist Alexander Fleming. He published his investigations, noting that his discovery might have therapeutic value if it could be produced in quantity. -
Invention of the kidney dialysis machine
Willem Kolff created the first kidney dialysis machine. His first machine was made of 50 feet of sausage casing that was wrapped around a wooden drum set in a saline solution. -
Invention of MRI
Felix Bloch and Edward Purcell independently discovered the magnetic resonance phenomena during this year. At this time MRI was being used for chemical and physical analysis. -
World Health Organistion founded
The World Health Organisation was founded as a United Nations agency to improve global health. In most of the world, life expectancy has improved since then, well above 80 years in some countries. -
Invention of the first cardiac pacemaker
John Hopps invented the first cardiac pacemaker. While experimenting with radio frequency heating to restore body temperature, he made an unexpected discovery: if a heart stopped beating due to cooling, it could be started again by artificial stimulation using mechanical or electrical means. -
First kidney transplant
Harvard University physicians led by surgeon Joseph E. Murray performed the world's first successful transplant from a living donor. -
The first successful optical laser
Theodore Maiman invented the ruby laser which was considered to be the first successful optical or light laser. However, there is some controversy that Gordon Gould made the first light laser. -
Artificial skin first used
John F. Burke and V. Yannas used their artificial skin on their first patient, a woman whose burns covered half of her body. -
Smallpox is eradicated
The World Health Organisation started a worldwide campaign to eradicate smallpox. The goal was accomplished in 10 years due to a large part in massive vaccination efforts. In 1980, the World Health Assembly declared the world free of smallpox. -
First partial face transplant
The world's first partial face transplant was carried out by Bernard Devauchelle and Jean-Michel Dubernard. Isabelle Dinoire underwent surgery to replace her original face, which had been mauled by her dog.
