Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis (DTP) was licensed
On May 4, 1949, the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis (DTP) vaccine was licensed. A greater than…
May was declared as Mental Health Awareness Month
May 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month was first declared. In 2006, Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day was chosen…
Louis Olivier published “The Penetration of Dermatitis-Producing Schistosome Cercariae”
On Mar. 2, 1949, Louis Olivier published “The Penetration of Dermatitis-Producing Schistosome Cercariae” in the American Journal of…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Arthur B. Lamb
In 1949, the American Chemical Society awarded the Priestley Medal to Arthur B. Lamb ‘for his numerous contributions…
Burkholderia cepacia first described
In 1949, Walter Hagemeyer Burkholder, a pioneer in bacterial taxonomy, described the bacteria, Pseudomonas cepacia, now known as…
The FDA approved nitrogen mustard (mechlorethamine) to kill cancer cells
In 1949, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved nitrogen mustard to kill cancer cells. The major use…
The last reported case of smallpox in the United States occurred
In 1949, the last reported case of smallpox in the U.S. occurred. Although it took another two decades…
The US blood system reached a benchmark of 1,500 hospital blood banks, 46 community blood centers, and 31 American Red Cross regional blood centers
In 1949, the U.S. blood system reached a benchmark of 1,500 hospital blood banks, 46 community blood centers,…
FDA published guidance to industry known as the “black book”
In 1949, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published guidance to industry for the first time. This guidance,…
The first artifical heart pump developed
In 1949, the first artificial heart pump was developed at Yale by William H. Sewell and William W….
John Enders, Thomas Weller and Frederick Robbins grew poliovirus in culture, paving the way for polio vaccines
In 1949, at Harvard, John F. Enders, Ph.D., a Yale College graduate, Frederick C. Robbins, M.D., and Thomas…
Ancel Keyes, MD founded the University of Minnesota’s Laboratory of Physiologic Hygiene
In 1949, Ancel Keyes, M.D. founded the University of Minnesota’s Laboratory of Physiologic Hygiene for research on physiology,…
Ethicon was formed from Johnsonﾠ &ﾠ Johnson’s heritage suture business
In 1949, Ethicon was formed from Johnson ﾠ&ﾠ Johnson’s heritage suture business.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was founded
In 1949, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) was founded in New York. The LLS mission is to…
Dr. Jonas Salk began classifying more than 100 strains of poliovirus
In 1949, Dr. Jonas Salk, with grants from the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, the Pitt team and…
Canadaﾒs first full-time cancer physicist, Dr. Harold Johns, led the world in development the cobalt bomb cancer treatment
In 1949, Canadaﾒs first full-time cancer physicist, Dr. Harold Johns, led the world in development the cobalt bomb…
The Medical College of Virginia Foundation was incorporated
In 1949, The Medical College of Virginia Foundation (MCV) was incorporated with the mission to inspire and steward…
The city of Seattle created a locked ward for TB sufferers who deny treatment
In 1949, to help stem the spread of tuberculosis, the city of Seattle created a locked ward for…
The U.S. was declared free of malaria
In 1949, the office of Malaria Control declared the U.S. was free of malaria as a significant public…
A patient at Saint Marys Hospital received the first injection of Compound E (Cortisone) for rheumatoid arthritis
On Sept. 21, 1948, a 28-year-old woman at Saint Marys Hospital (Mayo Clinic) in Rochester, MN received the…
John Roderick Heller became the fourth and longest serving director of the National Cancer Institute
On May 15, 1948, John Roderick Heller became the fourth and longest serving director of the National Cancer…
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The World Health Organization was founded in Geneva
On Apr. 7, 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) was founded and is today the United Nations agency…
President Truman appointed Leonard A Scheele as US Surgeon General
On Apr. 6, 1948, President Harry Truman appointed Leonard A. Scheele as U.S. Surgeon General.
The Medical College of Georgia published research that laid the groundwork for beta blocking drugs
In 1948, pharmacologist Dr. Raymond P. Ahlquist of the Medical College of Georgia published research that laid the…
First stenotic mitral heart valve operations performed at Peter Bent Brigham
In 1948, the first series of successful operations was performed at Peter Bent Brigham for repair of stenotic…
The Detroit Cancer Center was established
In 1948, the Detroit Cancer Center was established from the union of the Detroit Institute for Cancer Research…
The Rocky Mountain Laboratory became became part of National Microbiological Institute
In 1948, the National Institute of Health was reorganized into the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Rocky…
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Dr. Isabel M. Morgan demonstrated that chemically inactivated poliovirus would induce immunity
In 1948, Dr. Isabel M. Morgan led a team that successfully inoculated monkeys with a killed-virurs vaccine. From…
Elsie Taber became the first female full-time professor at MCSC’s School of Medicine
In 1948, Elsie Taber joined the faculty of the Anatomy Department of the Medical College of South Carolina….
National Research Council established library on University of Saskatchewan focused on chemistry and biology to diversify Canadian agriculture
In 1948, the National Research Council established a library on the University of Saskatchewan campus to use chemistry…