The Origin of Human Sickness and the Advancement of Medical Procedures

Human beings have suffered from illnesses and ailments since they first appeared on earth about three million years ago. Before medical procedures and knowledge began to surface about five thousand years ago, sicknesses were believed to have been brought on by angered gods or evil spirits. Some of those religions still believe that they must appease and serve their gods with offerings and sacrifices in order to rid themselves of a sickness. For the most part, these practices are carried out by witch doctors and/or healers.

In prehistoric times, one of the first superstitious beliefs resulted in a patient having a hole drilled in their head to supposedly let the evil spirits leave the body in order to relieve themselves of the sickness. Their have been fossil findings dating back over ten thousand years which shows this method. One of the procedures that was part of their treatment for sickness is still being used today with plants and plant substances as drugs.

The first known physician on earth was Imhotep, an Egyptian who lived in 2600 B.C. Imhotep lived in a period of time where Egyptians were making strong progressions in medicine. The main discovery was a textbook for treating wounds, broken bones, and tumors. It was because of these advanced findings that Imhotep eventually was worshipped as a god in Egypt.

Hippocrates was one of the early physicians who practiced medicine as well during his time on earth over twenty-four hundred years ago. Hippocrates believed that diseases and illnesses were not brought on by supernatural causes, but natural ones. He believed that the disease could be studied and a cure could be developed to rid it. This formed the basis of modern medicine, and this is why he is often referred to as the father of medicine. The Hippocratic Oath is named after him and it is a pledge taken by many medical students before entering into a practice or upon graduation.

Galen, who lived in the early second century, was a Roman physician for Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. His biggest finding was that the arteries actually carried blood and not air, which was the thought of many physicians at that time. Galen left many texts that for centuries had been used in medical practices. Many of Galen's writings revealed that he thought highly of Hippocrates as a physician. This is why the Hippocrates Oath is used today for physicians sworn into the practice of medicine.

It wasn't unitl the Middle Ages that medicine became institutionalized. The first public hospitals, formal medical schools, and the establishment of health care advanced the progression during this period of time. Between 500 and 1485 A.D., many epidemics had successfully spread all over Europe which prompted many of those procedures to take place. Among the outbreaks that occurred was leprosy in the 500's that peaked in the 1200's; Black Death which killed a quarter of Europe's population; and smallpox had also inflicted hundreds of thousands of the world's population during that time.

The most prominent physician during the Middle Ages was Islamic doctor Rhazes. Rhazes accurately described smallpox and measles that were translated into the Latin language. The other prominent physician during that period of time was Islamic scientist Avicenna. He wrote a philosophical encylclopedia that included the medical knowledge that was mainly used during that time. Among the diseases described in his work was meningitis and tetanus, and his encyclopedia remained the most influential education for physicians and doctors for the next six hundred years.

The Renaissance brought on more knowledge of human anatomy. Because of laws prohibiting dissection in the Middle Ages, human anatomy had not developed until it was legal to do so during the Renaissance. The most well-known person who practiced dissection during this period was Leonardo da Vinci. The Italian artist is better known for the Mona Lisa drawing, but he also was a big influence in the understanding of human anatomy during this period of time. He produced over 750 anatomical drawings after dissecting many human bodies during his life.

The first scientific textbook was produced by Belgian physician and professor Andreas Vesalius during the Renaissance. Like other anatomists of that time, Vesalius dissected many human bodies. This led to him publishing a textbook that overturned the works and words of Galen many years before.

The most popular human anatomy book was produced by English professor Henry Gray in 1858. His book, Anatomy of the Human Body, Descriptive and Surgical, became the standard for human dissection. That book is in print today by many editions, and went on to be used for more than a century after being published.

Human sickness has been around since the origin of mankind that has led to the advancement of medical procedures and practices throughout our history. Many trials and errors have brought us to the current state of modern medicine that has humans living longer on average. It was because of the sacrifice of past physicians and doctors to explore better medical practices that gave us ways to fight off illnesses and diseases. Ancient medicines and practices have made it possible for modern medicine to cure us all from the ailments that we all suffer from in our life.