History of Health Care

• The chinchona tree was originally discovered by the Quechua people of Peru and Bolivia
• In ancient times, the common belief was that disease and illness were caused by evil spirits and demons
• Religion played an important role in health care, as sickness was seen as a punishment
• Religious rites were used to eliminate evil spirits and restore health
• The human body was a mystery as most religions did not allow dissection of the body
• Ancient Egyptians used herbs and plants both as food and medicine
• Quinine, an effective malaria treatment, comes from the chinchona tree discovered by the Quechua people of Peru and Bolivia
• The 19th century was known as the period of the industrial revolution where progress occurred due to the development of machines and access to books
• Physicians in the 19th century began to associate tiny microorganisms seen in the microscope with diseases
• The average life span in the 19th century increased to 50 to 65 years
• In the 20th century, there was rapid growth in healthcare with the use of new machines like X-rays and antibiotics to fight infections
• Surgical techniques in the 20th century provided cures for conditions that were once fatal
• Computers are used in every aspect of healthcare in the 20th century
• The average life span in the 20th century increased to 60 to 80 years
• The smallpox vaccine was developed in the 18th century by Jenner, demonstrating that inoculating with cowpox could protect against smallpox
• The last natural case of smallpox occurred in Somalia in 1978
• In the 16th - 18th centuries, a major development was the invention of the microscope by Leeuwenhoek, allowing physicians to see germs that cause disease
• The average life span in the 16th - 18th centuries increased to 40 to 50 years
• In the Renaissance period, human dissection was accepted, allowing doctors to view body organs and understand the connection between different systems. Average lifespan was 30 to 40
• In the Middle Ages, medical universities were created in the 9th century to train doctors
• The average life span in the Middle Ages was 20 to 30 years
• In the Early Medieval Period, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the formalized study of medicine stopped, and emphasis was placed on saving the soul. Average lifespan was 20 to 30
• In the Middle Ages, the study of medicine flourished again, monks found and translated the writings if Greek and Roman
• In Ancient Times, disease and illness were believed to be caused by evil spirits and demons, and religion played an important role in healthcare
• Ancient cultures like the Egyptians, Chinese, and Greeks had significant contributions to medicine, with the Greeks stressing the importance of a good diet and cleanliness to prevent disease
• Small pox originated 3000 years ago in india or Egypt. Killed as many as 30% of those infected. 65-80% of those infected were marked with pork marks.