James Lind started his famous scurvy clinical trial
On May 20, 1747, James Lind of the British Royal Navy started his famous scurvy clinical trial. In…
King Gustav III of Sweden conducted coffee trial
Beginning in 1746, King Gustav III of Sweden, who viewed coffee consumption as a threat to the public…
The Free School (University of Delaware) was founded
In 1743, the University of Delaware traces its roots to the Free School founded in New London, Pennsylvania…
First legislation for health surveillance was enacted in Rhode Island
In 1741, The first legislation for health surveillance was enacted in the American colony of Rhode Island. The…
New York City Council established a quarantine anchorage off Bedloe’s Island
In 1738, the New York City Council established a quarantine anchorage off Bedloe’s Island, now home to the…
Stephen Hales first measures blood pressure in a horse
In 1727, Stephen Hales first measured the blood pressure in a horse. Hale continued his studies on cardiac…
Yale College awarded an honorary degree, the first medical degree given by an American university
In 1723, Yale College awarded an honorary degree, the first medical degree given by an American university to…
Dr. Zabdiel Boylston inoculated his son against smallpox
On Jun. 26, 1721, smallpox broke out in Boston, threatening to devastate the City. Zabdiel Boylston Adams, a…
First vaccine in the U.S. was introduced by an enslaved African
In 1721, the first vaccine in the U.S. was introduced by an enslaved African named Onesimus who brought…
Variolation was introduced to Great Britain
In 1721, variolation was introduced to Great Britain. In 1840, the British government passed the Vaccination Act that…
The Great Plague of Marseille began
On May 25, 1720, the Great Plague of Marseille began with the arrival of the Grand St Antoine…
The Collegiate School (Yale University) was founded
In 1701, Yale University was founded as the Collegiate School in the home of Abraham Pierson, its first…
The Collegiate School (Yale University) was renamed Yale College
In 1718, the Collegiate School (Yale University) was renamed Yale College in recognition of Elihu Yale’s donation of…
The Collegiate School (Yale University) moved to New Haven
In 1716, the Collegiate School moved to New Haven. Yale University was founded in 1701 as the Collegiate…
A plague epidemic around the Baltic Sea led England to pass the Quarantine Act
In 1712, a plague epidemic around the Baltic Sea led England to pass the Quarantine Act that required…
The term Zymotechnia “Zymotechnology” (Greek: Zyme “leven”) was coined
In 1697, the term Zymotechnia “Zymotechnology” (Greek: Zyme “leven”) coined by Prussian Court physician Georg Ernst Stahl in…
A Massachusetts statute quarantined victims of the plague, smallpox and other infectious diseases
In 1697, a Massachusetts statute stipulated that all individuals suffering from plague, smallpox, and other infectious diseases must…
The College of William and Mary was founded
On Feb. 8, 1693, The College of William and Mary was founded by a Royal Charter issued by…
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek reported microscopic observations on mold, parts of a bee and a louse
On Sept. 17, 1683, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, known as “the Father of Microbiology” wrote to the Royal Society…
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek reported the discovery of bacteria
On Oct. 9, 1674, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek reported the the discovery of bacteria in a 72 word letter…
Successful blood transfusions from sheep to humans were reported
On Jun. 15, 1667, the first successful blood transfusions from sheep to humans were reported separately by Jean-Baptiste…
The city of Frankfurt, Germany prohibited people living in plague-infected houses from public areas
In 1666, the city of Frankfurt, Germany issued a decree prohibiting people living in plague-infected houses from visiting…
The bubonic plague arrived in the English village of Eyam
In 1665 a tailor from Eyam ordered a box of materials relating to his trade from London, that…
Robert Hooke published Micrographia that describes cells for the first time
In 1665, Robert Hooke published Micrographia that described cells – viewed in sections of cork – for the…
Physician Richard Lower performed the first successful blood transfusion in a dog
In 1665, Physician Richard Lower performed the first successful blood transfusion in a dog, using blood from other…
Russia officials organized quarantines to prevent the spread of the plague
In 1664, Russia officials organized quarantines to prevent the spread of the plague and prohibited entry into Moscow…
The English monarchy issued royal decrees calling for establishment of permanent quarantines
In 1663, the English monarchy issued royal decrees calling for the establishment of permanent quarantines for people infected…
The English enacted a quarantine on all ships bound for London
In 1663, the English enacted a quarantine on all ships bound for London requiring each to pause at…
The New York City General Assembly prohibited people from smallpox infected areas from entering the city
In 1663, during a smallpox epidemic in New York City, the General Assembly passed a law forbidding people…
Red blood cells were first observed and described
In 1658, Microscopist Jan Swammerdam observed and described red blood cells.