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The notion of the primitive always appears at the boundaries of myth, legend, and history
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Herbal medicine is the earliest scientific tradition in medical practice, and it remains an important part of medicine to this day
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The snakeroot plant has traditionally been a tonic in the east to calm patients; it is now used in orthodox medical practice to reduce blood pressure.
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The long centuries of primitive experiment mean that Susruta, a physician working in India in about the 6th century BC, is able to list hundreds of herbal remedies.
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People in the primitive ages lived around 25 years old
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Due largely to their embalming process, the ancient Egyptians gained great knowledge of anatomy because of the practice of removing human organs
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Ancient Egyptian doctors were specialized in dentistry, pharmacology, gynecology, autopsy, embalming and general healing.
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All future development of medicine has some glimpses of Egyptian medicine
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Earliest people known to maintain accurate health records. Lifespan was 20 to 30 years.
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Called upon the gods to heal them when disease occured
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Religious prohibitions against dissection resulted in inadequate knowledge of body structure
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Carefully monitored the pulse to determine the condition of the body. Average lifespan was 20 to 30 years.
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Recorded a pharmacopoeia of medications based mainly on the use of herbs
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Believed in the need to treat the whole body by curing the spirit and nourishing the body
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Began the search for medical reasons for illness
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Believed illness is a result of natural causes
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Began modern medical science by observing the human body and effects of disease
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Used therapies such as massage, art therapy, and herbal treatment that are still used today
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Stressed diet and cleanliness as ways to prevent disease
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Average life span was 25 to 35 years
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First to organize medical care by providing care for injured soldiers
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Early hospitals developed when physicians cared for ill people in rooms in their homes
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Later hospitals were religious and charitable institutions housed in monasteries and convents
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Diet, exercise, and medications were used to treat disease
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Average life span was 25 to 35 years
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Emphasis was placed on saving the soul and the study of medicine was prohibited
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Prayer and divine intervention were used to treat illness and disease
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Monks and priests provided custodial care for sick people
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Medications were mainly herbal mixtures
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Average life span was 20 to 30 years
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Renewed interest in the medical practice of Greeks and Romans
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Physicians began to obtain knowledge at medical universities in the 9th century
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average life span was 20 to 35 years
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Major diseases were smallpox, diphtheria, tuberculosis, typhoid, the plague, and malaria
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Arab physicians used their knowledge of chemistry to advance pharmacology
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Rebirth of science of medicine
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Dissection of the body began to allow a better understanding of anatomy and physiology
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Development of the printing press allowed knowledge to be spread to others
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First book on dietetics written by Issac Judaeus
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Average lifespan was 30 to 40 years
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Causes of disease were still not known and many people died from infections and puerperal fever
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First successful blood transfusion on animals performed in England in 1667
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Bartolomeo Eustachio identified the eustachian tube leading from the ear to the throat
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Apothecaries made, prescribed, and sold medications
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Average life span was 35 to 45 years
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Average life span of 18th century was 40 to 50 years
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Average life span of 19th century was 40 to 60 years
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The first kidney dialysis machine was developed in 1944
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Adult stem cells were used in treatment of disease early in the 2000s
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First face transplant was performed in France in 2005 on a women whose lower face was destroyed by a dog attack
