Pharmacological
Revolutions
- Vaccines 1796
small pox -
Edward Jenner
- Anesthetics
Hypodermic
Syringe - 1853
Civil
War
- Antibiotics
Sulpha Drugs -
1920s
Penicillin - 1940
- Tranquilizers for mental
illness
1955-1975
mental hospital population decreased by75%
- Oral Contraceptives - 1963 in
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At
several points in history the development of a drug has changed the way we live, work and think. The following list presents
5 such occurrences. VACCINES - Prior to Edward Jenner's discovery of the cow pox -
milkmaid - small pox linkage humankind could do nothing but look on
in despair as the various killer infectious diseases ravaged society. With the work of people like Jenner,
Pasture, Koch, and Salk
we now stop at least 24 diseases with the immunization process. ANESTHESIA
- While
surgery was done before anesthesia was available,
it was limited to procedures that could be performed quickly and was usually reserved for the very ill. The
pain and shock caused much suffering even to the survivors.
These drugs enabled
physicians to perform more complex and time consuming procedures. Heart transplants and intricate cancer
dissections being ultimate examples. Anesthesia has enabled humans
to look at life in less painful terms. ANTIBIOTICS - Bacterial diseases were once the scourge of human kind. The first drug that killed bacteria living
in the human
body came along in the 1920's (sulfa) with the ultimate (penicillin) being introduced in the 1940's. Strep throat
and appendicitis are no longer death sentences. People used
to fear infection. Quarantine signs and homes off in the
mountains for TB patients are now considered a historical oddity. TRANQUILIZERS - The introduction of major tranquilizing and anti-depressant
drugs was one of the causes of a 65% decrease in the mental hospital population from 1955-1975.
These drugs enable
the heretofore unreachable patient to be calmed to a point where therapy can be helpful. Prior to this the
mentally ill were given
purges, enemas, shocks, and lobotomies in an effort to control their bizarre behavior. BIRTH CONTROL PILLS - The first drug use for
social convenience as opposed to disease cure or prevention. Hormona1 contraception
endble women
to control their fertility in a way never before possible and enabled many of the features of the woman's movement to
move forward. Which
one of these has been most important? Least Important? Rank order them. Discuss
reasons for your choice. What
wi11 be the next pharmacological discovery to change
or way of life? |