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.
After a plague epidemic kills 100,000 people in Naples, Rome begins inspecting all incoming ships
In 1656, after a plague epidemic kills 100,000 people in Naples, Rome began inspecting all incoming ships and…
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…
Harvard University was founded
In 1636, Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S., was founded by a vote…
Florentine scholar Francesco Rondinelli described the use of the “Wine Windows” to prevent the spread of the Plague
In 1634, the Florentine scholar, Francesco Rondinelli, wrote a report about a disease contagion, now known as the…
Sanitary legislation was drawn up in Venice to address plague epidemics
In 1629, sanitary legislation was drawn up in Venice that required health officers to visit homes during plague…
Potatoes from Peru were planted in Germany
In 1621, potatoes from Peru were planted in Germany, another example of foreign microbes finding new homes. Botanist…
Academy of the Lynx-Eyed was founded
In 1603, the Academy of the Lynx-Eyed was founded by Federico Cesi, the first academy of sciences to…
The name ‘influenza’ originated in 15th century Italy
In 1580, the first pandemic or worldwide epidemic, that clearly fit the description of influenza occurred in Italy….
The first maritime quarantine opened in Marseilles, France
In 1521, the first maritime quarantine opened in Marseilles, France. The quarantine system in Marseille lasted from 1620…
History’s first recognized influenza pandemic
In 1510, history’s first recognized influenza pandemic originated in Asia and rapidly spread to other continents through eyewitness…
Venice established the world’s first known maritime quarantine station
In 1403, Venice established the world’s first known maritime quarantine station, or lazaretto, on Santa Maria di Nazareth,…
Ships entering Italian ports during plague outbreaks were required to lie at anchor for forty days (a Quaranta Giorni) prior to docking
In 1377, ships entering Italian ports during plague outbreaks were required to lie at anchor for forty days…
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…
Guy de Chauliac published what will remain the definitive guide for surgeons for the next 300 years
In 1363, Guy de Chauliac published Chirurgia Magna what will become the definitive guide for surgeons for the…