Dutch lens grinder Zacharius Jannssen invents the microscope
Girolamo Fabrici studies leg veins and notices that they have valves which allow blood to flow only toward the heart
Edward Jenner develops a smallpox vaccination method
Humphry Davy discovers the anesthetic properties of nitrous oxide
René Laënnec invents the stethoscope.
Asprin is invented in Germany.
Frederick Banting and Charles Best discover insulin – important for the treatment of diabetes
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
First vaccine for influenza.
Jonas Salk develops the first polio vaccine (available in 1955)
Hip Replacement - John Charnley
James Hardy performs the first human lung transplant
Thomas Starzl performs the first human liver transplant
First commercial ultrasound
Christiaan Barnard performs the first human heart transplant
Laser Eye Surgery (LASIK) - Mani Lal Bhaumik
First test-tube baby is born in the U.K.
Dr. William DeVries implants the Jarvik-7 artificial heart into patient Barney Clark. Clark lives 112 days.
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is identified.Read more: Medical Advances Timeline — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0932661.html#ixzz25cislilH
Scientists discover how to use human skin cells to create embryonic stem cells