Leading causes of death in U.S. were tuberculosis, pneumonia, and diarrheal enteritis — all infectious diseases
In 1900, the three leading causes of death in the United States were tuberculosis, pneumonia, and diarrheal enteritis…
First plague vaccine developed by Russian physician Waldemar M. W. Haffkine
On Jan. 10, 1897, Russian physician Waldemar M. W. Haffkine, who trained with Louis Pasteur in Paris, tested…
Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | Non-Profit Research | Therapeutics
Shodair Children’s Hospital was founded
In 1896, Shodair Children’s Hospital was founded. In 1987, Shodair Children’s Hospital became a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital…
The Surgeon General issued an order that required all ships entering U.S. ports be quarantined twenty days
In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison, trying to prevent av Asiatic cholera epidemic, had Surgeon General Thomas J. Parran,…
Benjamin P. Cheney Academy (Eastern Washington University) was founded
On Apr. 3, 1882, Eastern Washington University (EWU) was founded. Originally named Benjamin P. Cheney Academy for the…
William Halsted performed the first radical mastectomy
In 1882, William Halsted performed the surgery that bears his name, and the modern era in the surgical…
Gerhard Hansen observed the bacillus which causes leprosy or Hansen’s disease under a microscope
In 1873, Gerhard-Henrik Armauer Hansen published his report that claimed leprosy to be an infectious disease with a…
Florence Sabin became the first woman to serve as a faculty member at Johns Hopkins
In 1871, Florence Sabin became the first woman to serve as a faculty member at Johns Hopkins. became…
Detroit Medical College founded
In 1868, Wayne State University was founded by five physicians who witnessed the crude medical treatment on Civil…
Steamer Virginia arrived in New York, its passengers riddled with cholera and ordered quarantined
On April 18, 1866, the steamer Virginia arrived in New York from Liverpool, its passengers riddled with cholera….
Julian John Chisolm published his ‘A Manual of Military Surgery’
In 1861, Julian John Chisolm (Dean, 1866-67, School of Medicine of the Medical College of the State of…
Florence Nightingale became known as “The Lady of the Lamp” for healing British soldiers in the Crimean War
On Nov. 4, 1854, pioneering British nurse Florence Nightingale brought a team of women nurses to the Crimean…
The East Florida Seminary (University of Florida) was founded
On Jan. 6, 1853, Florida Governor Thomas Brown signed a bill that provided public support to higher education,…
Biology | Chemical | Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | Non-Profit Research | Oncology | Therapeutics
The American Association for the Advancement of Science was founded
On Sept. 20, 1848, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) was founded which marked the…
The New England Female Medical College was founded
In 1848, the New England Female Medical College was founded, becoming the first institution in the U.S. to…
New York mandated maritime cholera quarantine
In 1832, New York mandated in June that no ship can approach within 300 yards of any dock…
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…
The Medical Society of South Carolina Granted Charter by State Assembly
On Dec. 20, 1823, the South Carolina General Assembly granted the request of the Medical Society of South…
The Medical College of South Carolina was incorporated
In 1823, The Medical College, a private institution of the Medical Society of South Carolina was incorporated in…
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 University of North Carolina was founded
On Dec. 11, 1789, the University of North Carolina (UNC) was founded. The UNC was the first public…
The Massachusetts Medical Society was founded
On Nov. 1, 1781, the Massachusetts Medical Society was established, and its charter was signed by Samuel Adams,…
George Washington mandated Smallpox inoculation for all Continental soldiers
In 1777, George Washington mandated inoculation for all Continental soldiers against smallpox which had impacted the Continental Army…