Asiatic cholera epidemic hit New York City with particular ferocity
In 1832, Asiatic cholera epidemic hit New York City with particular ferocity. Sanitary cordons, or quarantine, were the…
James Parkinson published an essay on paralysis agitans known as Shaking Palsy
In 1817, James Parkinson published an essay on six cases of paralysis agitans known as Shaking Palsy. Other…
Yellow fever killed 1,200 people in Baltimore
In 1800, a yellow fever outbreak killed 1,200 people in Baltimore. The presence of an abundance of mosquito-breeding…
Benjamin Waterhouse conducted first small pox vaccination in the US
In 1801, Benjamin Waterhouse, a professor at the Massachusetts Medical College of Harvard University, conducted the first small…
The first marine hospital owned by the Federal Government was purchased from the State of Virginia
In 1801, The first marine hospital owned by the Federal Government was purchased from the State of Virginia….
English scientist and physician Edward Jenner inoculated 8-year old James Phipps against smallpox
On May 14, 1796, English scientist and physician Edward Jenner inoculated 8-year old James Phipps with the world’s…
Yellow fever killed more than 5,000 people in Philadelphia
On Aug. 1, 1793, it was reported that a fever, now known as ‘Yellow Fever’ killed more than…
A yellow fever epidemic struck Philadelphia (then Capital of the U.S.)
In 1793, after 31 years of absence a yellow fever epidemic struck Philadelphia killing thousands of city residents…
The Medical Society of South Carolina was founded
On Dec. 24, 1789, the Medical Society of South Carolina was founded in Charleston on Christmas Eve by…
The Massachusetts Medical Society was founded
On Nov. 1, 1781, the Massachusetts Medical Society was established, and its charter was signed by Samuel Adams,…
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…
The Great Plague of Marseille began
On May 25, 1720, the Great Plague of Marseille began with the arrival of the Grand St Antoine…
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…
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 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…
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 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…
Boston officials enact an ordinance to prevent infectious diseases from reaching their shore
In 1647, Boston officials enacted an ordinance requiring all arriving ships to stop at the harbor entrance or…
The town of Ragusa in Italy established a quarantine station
In 1370, the town of Ragusa in Italy established a quarantine station where all people arriving from plague-infected…
In an early act of biological warfare, Tartars catapulted the bodies of Plague victims at invading Christians
In 1346, during a siege of Kaffa (now Feodosia, Ukraine), the Tartar army catapulted bodies of plague victims…
Spectacles were invented
In 1285, spectacles were invented in Italy using convex lenses for the farsighted. The “Glasses Apostle” painting in…
DNA evidence of plague found in Europe
Evidence from 4,800 to 3,700 years ago suggested the plague-causing bacterium Yersinia pestis, first arrived in Europe during…