scientists demonstrated Rocky Mountain spotted fever and endemic typhus was transmitted by rat fleas
In 1931, Rolla E. Dyer, Lucius F. Badger, and Adolph S. Rumreich demonstrated that Rocky Mountain spotted fever…
Biology | Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | NIH | Therapeutics | U.S. Congress
The National Institute of Health was established by the Ransdell Act
In 1930, the Ransdell Act changed the name of the Hygienic Laboratory to National Institute (singular) of Health…
The name of the Food, Drug, and Insecticide Administration was shortened to Food and Drug Administration
In 1930, the name of the Food, Drug, and Insecticide Administration was shortened to Food and Drug Administration…
The Hygienic Laboratory changed its name to the National Institute (singular) of Health
In 1930, the Hygienic Laboratory changed its name to the National Institute (singular) of Health and authorized the…
The first iron lung was used to treat polio patients
On Oct. 12, 1928, the first iron lung was used at Boston Children’s Hospital by Harvard Medical School…
Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | NIH | Non-Profit Research | Oncology | Radiology | Therapeutics | U.S. Congress
The ‘sword symbol’ of the American Society for the Control of Cancer was adopted
In 1928, the sword symbol of the Americal Cancer Society (ASCC) came from a 1928 nationwide poster contest…
Dr. Eaton MacKay was invited from Stanford to become the first director of research at the Scripps Metabolic Clinic
In 1928, Dr. Eaton MacKay was invited from Stanford University to become the first director of research at…
The University of Oregon Medical School took over operation of Doernbecher
In 1928, The University of Oregon Medical School takes over operation of Doernbecher Hospital. Frank Doernbecher was a…
Senator Matthew Neely proposed legislation offering a $5 million reward for a cancer cure discovery
On Feb. 4, 1927, a decade before the National Cancer Institute (NCI) was established, Senator Matthew Neely (D)…
Plan for Doernbecher Memorial Hospital for Children was announced
On Oct. 14, 1923, plans were announced for Doernbecher Memorial Hospital for Children. Frank S. Doernbecher was a…
Biology | Disease | Environmental | EPA | FDA | Life Science History | Neurology | U.S. Congress
William Mansfield Clark alerted the public to the dangers of tetraethyl lead in gasoline
In 1923, William Mansfield Clark from the U.S. Department of Agriculture alerted the public to the dangers of…
Frederick Banting and Charles Best administered insulin from the pancreas’ of dogs proving insulin’s efficacy in treating human diabetes
In 1921, Frederick Banting and Charles Best who extracted the hormone insulin from the pancreas’ of dogs in…
Dr. Albert C. Broders, a surgical pathologist at the Mayo Clinic, published a description of a system for grading cancer on a numerical basis
In 1920, Dr. Albert C. Broders, a surgical pathologist at the Mayo Clinic, published a description of a…
Tretiakoff first used the term ‘corps de Lewy’ (Lewy bodies)
In 1919, Konstantin Tretiakoff first used the term ‘corps de Lewy’ (Lewy bodies) and reported the presence of…
Louisville Health Officer Baker implemented another influenza closure order for the city
On Dec. 12, 1918, following a second spike in influenza cases especially among schoolchildren, Louisville Health Officer Dr….
Boston’s influenza closure ordered were removed
On Oct. 19, 1918, Boston’s influenza closure ordered were removed, allowing public spaces to reopen.
Chicago health officials noted a spike in the number of deaths due to acute respiratory disease due influenza pandemic
On Sept. 21, 1918, between the start of Chicago’s epidemic and the removal of restrictions on Nov. 16,…
The Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company donated 20-acres to the University of Oregon Medical School
In 1917, Dr. Kenneth McKenzie the staff surgeon at Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company persuaded the company to…
Polio epidemic spread throughout New York killing more than 2,300 mostly children
On Jun. 17, 1916, New York City experienced the first large epidemic of polio (poliomyletis), with over 9,000…
Hygienic Laboratory investigators changed way smallpox vaccinations were administered to soldiers
In 1916, During World War I, work by Hygienic Laboratory investigators changed the way smallpox vaccinations were administered…
The Lundbeck Company was founded
On Aug. 14, 1915, Hans Lundbeck founded a company in Copenhagen, Denmark, which dealt in everything from machinery…
Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | Oncology | Therapeutics | Women's Health
The first known article on cancer’s warning signs was published in Ladies’ Home Journal
In 1913, the first known article on cancer’s warning signs was published in the popular women’s magazine (Ladies’…
Dr. Harvey Wiley, “Father of the Pure Food and Drugs Act,” resigned as chief of the agency that became FDA
On Mar. 15, 1912, Dr. Harvey Wiley, “Father of the Pure Food and Drugs Act,” resigned as chief…
William Howard Taft nominated Rupert Blue as U.S. Surgeon General
On Nov.13, 1912, President William Howard Taft nominated Rupert Blue as U.S. Surgeon General after the unexpected death…
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Marie Curie
On Nov. 7, 1911, Marie Curie’s birthday (born 1867), she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry “in…
The Firland Sanatorium for Tuberculosis patients opened in Seattle as the Henry Sanatorium
On May 2, 1911, the Firland Sanatorium constructed by the Anti-Tuberculosis League of King County at 19303 Fremont…
Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler coined the term ‘autism’
In 1911, Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler coined the term ‘autism,’ borrowing from the Eugen Bleuler Greek word ‘autos’…
Polish biochemist Casimir Funk coined the term “vitamin”
In 1911, Polish biochemist Casimir Funk coined the term “vital amines” or “vitamines”. After reading an article by…
Sarcoma virus reported by Peyton Rous in the Journal of Experimental Medicine
In 1911, Pathologist Peyton Rous reported a virus that causes cancer in chickens (Rous sarcoma virus) that opened…
The term Alzheimer’s disease first used
On Jul. 15, 1910, the term Alzheimer’s disease was first used by German psychiatrist Dr. Emil Kraepelin to…