History of Medicine (United States): Difference between revisions

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==European, African and Asian healing methods==
==European, African and Asian healing methods==


==Medicine as a profession in the USA==
==Medicine in Colonial Era==
 
===Disease conditions===
 
There was a fundamental difference in the human infectious diseases present in the indigenous peoples and that of sailors,explorers and settlers from Europe, Africa and Asia. Some viruses, like smallpox, have only human hosts and appeared to have never occurred on the North American continent before mass immigrations of the 16th and 17th centuries. The indigenous people lacked genetic resistance to such new infections, and suffered overwhelming mortality when exposed to smallpox, measles, malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases.
===Before the American Revolution===
 
Since the human population of North America was sparse, and had been separated from the crowded European, African, and Asian peoples for many generations, there was a fundamental difference in the human infectious diseases present in the indigenous peoples and that of immigrants. Some viruses, like small pox, have only human hosts and appeared to have never occurred on the North American continent before mass immigrations of the 16th and 17th centuries. This not only meant that the indigenous people lacked genetic resistance to such new infections, and suffered overwhelming mortality when exposed, but-in the port cities, especially, even the immigrant population was subject to epidemic illness when ships arrived carrying ill passengers. Since the wealth of the port was dependent on the docking of ships, but the life of the inhabitants was dependant on quarrentine of sick pasengers, there was strong financial support of public health in cities like New York.
 
Some viruses, like small pox, have only human hosts and appeared to have never occurred on the North American continent before mass immigrations of the 16th and 17th centuries. This not only meant that the indigenous people lacked genetic resistance to such new infections, and suffered overwhelming mortality when exposed, but-in the port cities, especially, even the immigrant population was subject to epidemic illness when ships arrived carrying ill passengers. Since the wealth of the port was dependent on the docking of ships, but the life of the inhabitants was dependant on quarrentine of sick pasengers, there was strong financial support of public health in cities like New York.
 
Early on, there was a recognized need for a knowledgable person to be able to inspect the ships, their passengers and crew, and deem whether or not these individuals could disembark.
 
====First hospitals====
 
===Before the Civil War===
 
 
===After the Civil War-late 19th Century===
 
 
=== The 20th Century: Regulation begins===
 
 


In the southern colonies malaria was endemic, with very high mortality rates for new arrivals. Children born in the new world had some immunity --they suffered mild recurrent forms of malaria but survived.
===Practice===
The first medical society was organized in Boston in 1735. Many young men went to Europe for medical training; 41 were trained at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland before 1775.  Smallpox inoculation was introduced 1716-1766, well before it was accepted in Europe. The first medical schools were established in Philadelphia in 1765 and New York in 1768. The first textbook appeared in 1775, though physicians had easy access to British textbooks.  The first pharmacopoeia appeared in 1178.
===Hospitals===
Pest houses were established in port cities, notably Boston (171), Philadelphia (174) Charleston (1752) and New York (1757). The first  general hospital was established in Philadelphia in 1752.
==19th Century==
Public health conditions were poor in most cities, with cholera and yellow fever epidemics every few years.


==20th Century==
===Flexner report of 1910===
===Medical Research and NIH===
[[Category:CZ Live]]
[[Category:CZ Live]]
[[Category:Health Sciences Workgroup]]
[[Category:Health Sciences Workgroup]]
[[Category:History Workgroup]]
[[Category:History Workgroup]]

Revision as of 13:14, 8 March 2007

The history of American Medicine has been relatively short, as compared to European Medicine, but has had a global impact. Although this article is about the development of the professional practice and education of physicians in the United States, it includes some background on the popular traditions of healing arts by both the Native Americans and the early European and African immigrants, whose remedies, in part, became incorporated into medical practice.



Healing arts of the indigenous peoples

European, African and Asian healing methods

Medicine in Colonial Era

Disease conditions

There was a fundamental difference in the human infectious diseases present in the indigenous peoples and that of sailors,explorers and settlers from Europe, Africa and Asia. Some viruses, like smallpox, have only human hosts and appeared to have never occurred on the North American continent before mass immigrations of the 16th and 17th centuries. The indigenous people lacked genetic resistance to such new infections, and suffered overwhelming mortality when exposed to smallpox, measles, malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases.

In the southern colonies malaria was endemic, with very high mortality rates for new arrivals. Children born in the new world had some immunity --they suffered mild recurrent forms of malaria but survived.

Practice

The first medical society was organized in Boston in 1735. Many young men went to Europe for medical training; 41 were trained at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland before 1775. Smallpox inoculation was introduced 1716-1766, well before it was accepted in Europe. The first medical schools were established in Philadelphia in 1765 and New York in 1768. The first textbook appeared in 1775, though physicians had easy access to British textbooks. The first pharmacopoeia appeared in 1178.

Hospitals

Pest houses were established in port cities, notably Boston (171), Philadelphia (174) Charleston (1752) and New York (1757). The first general hospital was established in Philadelphia in 1752.

19th Century

Public health conditions were poor in most cities, with cholera and yellow fever epidemics every few years.

20th Century

Flexner report of 1910

Medical Research and NIH

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