3000 BC
Edwin Smith Papyrus (Egypt)
He was first to write about cancer. (Hajdu SI, Thun MJ, Hannan LM, Jemal A. A note from history. March 2011; Cancer 117(5):1097-102)
1552 BC
Ebers Papyrus
He had written about breastfeeding and treatment of worm infestations as well as eye diseases.
15TH CENTURY BC
Oath of the Hindu Physician (Vaidya's Oath)
- Physicians should not eat meat, drink or commit adultery
- Physicians should not harm their patients and be solely devoted to their care even if he put his life in danger
- He must put behind his desire, anger, greed, folly, pride, egotism, jealousy, harshness, falsehood, sloth and improper conduct
- He should behave perfectly, while he professes views. He should be guilty of sin
- After having finished his studies, he should help Brahmins, venerable persons, poor people, women, widows, orphans and anyone he meet on his errands as if they were his own relatives. This will be right conduct. (Alfred Gellhorn Medical ethics—so what's the story? PDF- In Vitro. 1977;13(10):589)
800–400 BC
Sushruta
He had written many aspects of child rearing such as infant feeding, viral fevers and liver diseases. He was first to perform cataract surgery at that time. That's why he is known as Indian Hippocrates. (Viswanathan J, Desai AB (Eds). Achar's textbook of pediatrics. 3rd edition. Orient Longman: Madras; 1991. pp. 1-16)
700 BC
Greek Medical School
The first known Greek Medical School was opened in Cnidus. Alcmaeon (pioneer of anatomy), worked in this school and here the practice of observing patients was established. (Risse GB. Mending bodies, saving souls: a history of hospitals. Oxford University Press. 1990. p. 56)3
460–370 BC
Hippocrates of Cos
An ancient Greek physician who is often called as the Father of Medicine. Hippocrates and his followers were first to describe many childhood diseases and medical conditions. He is given credit for the first description of clubbing of the fingers and description of Hippocratic face. (Adams Francis. Works by Hippocrates; 1891. pp. 1994-2000)
Hippocratic Oath
It is an oath historically taken by physicians, physician assistants and other healthcare professionals swearing to practice medicine ethically and honestly.
Original
I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfill according to my ability and judgment this oath and this convenant:
To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art—if they desire to learn it—without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but to no one else.
I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.
I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly, I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness, I will guard my life and my art.
I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work.
Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.
What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself holding such things shameful to be spoken about.
If I fulfill this path and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely may the opposite of all this be my lot.
Rephrased
I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following oath and agreement:4
To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him. To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art; and that by my teaching, I will impart a knowledge of this art to my own sons, and to my teacher's sons, and to disciples bound by an indenture and oath according to the medical laws, and no others.
I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.
But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.
I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest. I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.
In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or men, be they free or slaves.
All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.
If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all humanity and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my life.
(Farnell Lewis R. Greek hero cults and ideas of immortality. Kessinger Publishing; 2004. Chap 10. pp. 234-79)
400 BC
Kashyap and Jeevaka
World's first pediatrician—Kashyap and Jeevaka: (guru-shishya) were Indians, whose pioneering work on the child care and diseases are relevant today. The first manuscript on the management of children was included in Kashyap samhita and Vridha Jeevka. (Viswanathan J, Desai AB (Eds). Achar's textbook of pediatrics. 3rd edition. Madras: Orient Longman; 1991. pp. 1-16)
4TH CENTURY BC
Aristophanes
In Plato's symposium, he had described three original sexes of humans: female, male and androgynous-intersex. (Symposium 221B; Plato, Loeb Classical Library. 1975;3: p. 236)
4TH CENTURY BC
Heart Valves
Heart valves were discovered by a physician of the Hippocratean School but their function was not fully understood. (Heart-Medicalook.com, Retrieved. 2010)
335–280 BC
Herophilos
He was first to do the dissection of human body and to describe the nervous system. (Adrian Wills. Herophilus, Erasistratus, and the birth of neuroscience. The Lancet. November 1999)
330 BC
Aristotle
Aristotle described the ligation of the left testicle in men wishing to have male baby. (Hoag, Hannah. Drexel University Publication)
320 BC
Bindusara (Second Mauryann Samrat of India)
He was the first child born by cesarian section. His mother (wife of Chandragupta Maurya) accidentally consumed poison and died; when she was close to give birth. Chanakya, the Chandragupta's advisor, opened the abdomen of the queen and took out the baby, thus saving the baby's life. (M Srinivasachariar. History of classical Sanskrit literature. 3rd edition. Motilal Banarsi das; 1989. p. 550)
3RD CENTURY BC
Han Fei Tzu
He had written that in the China's society, sex selective infanticide has been practiced since long time. He also states that on birth of male child, the parents congratulates each other whereas on female child birth they put her to death. (Yu-Lan, Fung. A history of Chinese philosophy. Princeton University Press; 1952. pp. 327)6
3RD CENTURY BC
Herophilus of Chalcedon and Eras Stratus of Chios
They were the ancient Greek physicians, who carried out early systematic human dissections. (Von Staden H. The discovery of the body. Yale journal of biology and medicine. 1992;65(3):223-41)
300 BC
Charak
He was the first physician to state the concept of digestion, metabolism and immunity also was first to mention about the genetics and relevant disorders. He was first to suggest that prevention of disease is important than to cure. He is also referred as the Father of Anatomy. (Pal MN. The Ayurvedic tradition of child care: Pediatric wisdom of ancient India. Clinical Pediatr-Phila. 1973;(12):122-3)
230 BC
King Ashoka
King Ashoka had founded eighteen hospitals with physicians and nursing staff with the expense of royal treasury. (McGrew, Roderick E. Encyclopedia of medical history, Macmillan; 1985. p. 135)
200 BC–200 AD
Manu Smriti of Hindus
Manu Smriti of Hindus mentions about the biological origins of the three sexes: A male child is produced by a greater quantity of male seed, a female child by the prevalence of the female seeds, if both are equal, a third-sex child or boy and girl twins are produced; if either are weak or deficient in quantity, a failure of conception results. (Garfunkel, Harold. Studies in ethno methodology. 1967)
100 BC
Charka Samhita
Charka Samhita had described the building of a hospital was from this period. (Wujastyk, Dominik. The Nurses should be able to sing and play instruments. University College, London)