Medicine Through Time Individuals

Hippocrates (460BC-377BC) (ANCIENT GREEK) Known as ‘The Father of Modern Medicine’. Developed the theory of the four humours (black bile, yellow bile, blood & phlegm), which he then linked to the seasons to explain illness. Supported the idea of exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet – the principles of a healthy lifestyle – as a way of preventing illness. Developed the idea and practice of clinical observation, in which symptoms and treatments, both wrong and right, were recorded for future reference. Invented the ‘Hippocratic Oath’ which is still used today by doctors, as a promise to do their best for their patients and not exploit them. Published a series of books called ‘The Hippocratic Collection’.

Claudius Galen (129 AD-200AD) (ROMAN) Began as a doctor in a gladiator school, which developed his understanding of anatomy. Further developed Hippocrates’ theory of the four humours, into theory of the opposites. Believed the human body was a perfect design and therefore his teachings lasted through the Dark Ages. Proved through public dissection that the brain controlled the body, not the heart as it had previously been believed. Encouraged dissection. However made mistakes due to dissecting animals, rather than humans: The human jaw was two bones. The way muscles joined the bone. Blood seeped through the septum (in the heart). Humans only have one kidney. Men had one less rib than women. The heart used the blood as fuel and the body created more blood.

Ambroise Paré (1510-1590) (RENAISSANCE) Renaissance surgeon (originally a barber-surgeon). Discovered by chance a cold solution to seal war wounds. This was made of egg whites, rose oil and turpentine, rather than cauterising the wound with boiling oil. His ointment prevented inflammation and infection of healing wounds. Invented ligatures. (However, the ligatures could have been contaminated but wernt because germs were undiscovered, lack of knowledge)

Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564) (RENAISSANCE) Renaissance doctor. Published a book called ‘The Fabric of The Human Body’ with anatomical illustrations. Used illustrations with Leonardo Da Vinci to help understanding Proved that the jaw was one bone, not two as was thought by Galen. Proved that men and women have the same amount of ribs. Encouraged dissection. Stole bodies of hanged convicts

William Harvey (1578-1657) (RENAISSANCE) Renaissance Doctor. Proved that blood did not seep through the septum, as Galen had thought. Discovered and proved the circulatory system. Proved that valves controlled the blood flow in experiments using lizards. Published a paper ‘Anatomical Essay on The Motion of The Heart and Blood in Animals’. His ideas and discoveries meant people began questioning blood- letting. Predicted capillaries, but couldn’t be proven because there was no microscope yet

Edward Jenner (1749-1823) Developed the first vaccination (this was for smallpox) using a weaker form of the disease – cowpox, from milk maids – which was not life threatening. However, he did not understand what caused the disease. He observed that milk maids who caught cowpox never caught smallpox Tested his idea on young James Phipps

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) Discovered microorganisms (due to the microscope invention) Realised that by boiling a solution, this killed the microorganisms. Proved the previous belief of spontaneous generation was wrong. Developed the Germ Theory – 1861. Finally made the connection that bacteria caused disease. Hired by beverage companies to find out what made their drinks go bad. The killing of microbes via boiling is called PASTEURIZATION

Robert Koch (1843-1910) Realised the life-cycle of anthrax and was able to single out the disease as a single microbe (staining method). Identified septicaemia as the microbe which caused blood poisoning. Developed a staining technique so that germs could be stained and therefore seen under a microscope. Photographed bacteria to prove his theories. Perfected the technique of growing cultures of a particular bacteria/germ. Discovered what microbe caused TB (tuberculosis).

Ignaz Semmelweiss (1818-1865) Realised the connection between doctors and students going from the morgue and dissecting corpses, to the maternity ward and delivering babies without washing their hands. Established that doctors needed to wash their hands between patients. Unfortunately not many doctors followed his discovery and examples as it was before the germ theory.  

Joseph Lister (1827-1912) Developed the first use of antiseptics – carbolic spray (smelly). Developed the beginnings of aseptic surgery. Every theatre had to be sprayed by carbolic spray before and after use to prevent the spread of infection.

James Simpson(1873-1934) Discovered chloroform as a anaesthetic. Encouraged by Queen Victoria who praised chloroform after the birth of her eight child and also Charles Dickens’ wife which made chloroform more popular Considered by the general public risky because they were out of their own control when put to sleep Hannah Greener killed by overdose of chloroform to remove an ingrown toe nail

Edwin Chadwick (1800-1890) Was one of the assistant commissioners of the Royal Commission of Enquiry on the Poor Laws. Published a report called ‘The Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Populations’ in 1842. His report outlined that a public health act was needed. In helping the poor to be in better and sanitary living conditions then the work force which contributed a majority of labour would be in better health. This initial expense of a health act would be better in the long run for the economy of the country. He made the connection in his report that disease was linked to the living conditions. Appointed Sanitation Commissioner once the health act was introduced and brought in fresh clean water to every house, sewage systems etc.

Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) Pioneer in nursing. (UNUSUAL FOR A WOMAN DURING THOSE TIMES) Made the connection between dirt and disease during the Boer War, in which she thought the hospitals were filthy Started boiling sheets and medical supplies before patients used them. Did not understand the origins of disease. Sent a lengthy report to the Queen, however ideas were dismissed because people still widely believed in spontaneous generation.

John Snow (1813-1858) Made the link between the dirty/sewage water and the cholera epidemic. Published a paper explaining that sewage was leaking into the city’s drinking water. Discovery was dismissed as it was before the germ theory, miasma was still thought of as the main cause of disease.