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Revisiting the History of American Medicine

Reyte On Publishing. http://WritersBlock-aid.com 2009

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Abstract

The origins for Medical and Health Science date back to the beginning of human life on earth.
People have sought cures for sickness, pain, wounds, and other necessary medical processes of
life. For example how children develop through puberty to how women progress through a
pregnancy, or the examination of how we age. There is the claim that the medical advances of
scientists and physician’s discoveries and developing medical technologies have improved the
successes in health and healing, prolonging life. However there are many early and modern
instances where the homeostasis behaviors of our medical society have fallen far short in “doing
no harm”. Understanding the issues with today’s technology of medical pharmacology to our
health are paramount in resolving health concerns in a modern world.
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1) Much knowledge has been gained and much technological advancement has been made in

our country in the area of health care in relation to the basic principles of homeostasis. Focus

your essay on addressing the following questions: (a) In looking at the history of our country, do

you think that our health is better than in earlier times in our history? (b) Why or why not?

Provide evidence for your opinions.

Homeostasis is defined as the changes or adaptations that are the result of response to stimuli in

the environment, in behavior or in the physical structure of an organism (Herrington, 1997).

The adjustments to behavioral theory about the medical field changed from philosophy to

science in the 19th and 20th centuries. Earlier periods leaned on natural, spiritual, and tribal or

familial remedies passed from generation to generation (Wellness Directory of Minnesota

(WDM), 2009).

As we have moved from an agricultural society into an industrialized nation in the 1800s and

beyond in some areas due to the advance of technology, we have seen success, however in other

areas, it is possible American medicine has digressed.

“Nearly all men die of their medicines, not of their diseases.” Moliere

During the early 1800s those that lived in the urban cities would probably have chosen what was

termed conventional medicine for their health care. During that time most of the medical practice

by physicians was based on what was called a theory of Four Humors. Medicine was based on

conventional cures passed down through what was termed philosophy theory. The Four Humors

were considered the four main illnesses that people suffered from they were hot/fever,

cold/chills, acid and alkaline. The medical journals or papers of those days that physicians wrote

were mainly discussion of various theories and ideas about nature. These were often based on

precedent instead of scientific evidence. This precedent was accepted as truth until another
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theory or circumstance proved otherwise (WDM, 2009). Midwives were equal to doctors

though this is little known during the 1840s. In fact they may have been more effective. It is well

accepted by the American Medical Association and others today that when a hand or medical

instrument is placed inside the body of a woman, she could get an infection, which could cause

her or a baby’s death. It has been documented that puerperal fever caused many deaths of women

that were birthing babies during the early 19th century. A single doctor started several epidemics

of this deadly infection as they treated nearly all of the pregnant women where a midwife was

not allowed to deliver. Midwives were known to sterilize the area when delivering a baby by

washing the entire area with very hot water. This simple practice made them much safer in

handling childbirth and caring for the sick. However, the behavioral custom or homeostasis of

the day was for the men to be the nurses and doctors and thereby earn a salary, while midwives

were often relieved of their duties to make way for the professionals. One result of this

homeostatic practice during those days was that as doctors carried the infection from one poor

patient to the next, many women died. In Bellevue, New York in 1840 50% of the women were

infected through a single doctor and 80% died (WDM, 2009).

The idea of licensing medical practice was developed by the physicians who pressed local and

state government to enforce a penalty against any whom attempted to encourage healing for the

sick. The first law was the Medical Practices Act, which fined $25 to any violation. Other types

of medical health processes include Thomasonian, Homeopathy, Indian, and Herbal medicine.

Each of these was considered a violation of the Medical Practices Act. However since the

physicians patients tended to get sicker and those under the care of the other medical procedures

tended to live longer and healthier the law was repealed (WDM, 2009). The physical structure of

the human body reacted differently to various medical treatments for the Four Humors.
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Oftentimes physicians prescribed Mercury which was thought to be one of the wonder drugs

and a cure all of the day. Mercury may have played a part in the death of President George

Washington (OSH, 1997). Since it was prescribed for his sore throat on his deathbed by his

family physician (WDM, 2009). Today we know that exposure to mercury can affect the

respiratory system, which would cause breathing to be diminished, coughing, and fluid to

accumulate in the lungs. Eventually the body will not be able to adapt or continue ingesting this

mineral and respiratory failure is the result (Occupational Health and Safety (OSH), 1997).

It is amazing that the medical practices during those early days were so very ineffective and

hazardous. Children, adults, or the medical practitioners did not employ simple sanitary

practices. Dr. Benjamin Rush wrote these statistics about how sanitation affected the lives of

many early Americans. “For every 100 people born only 64 lived past six years old. By the age

of 16, this has been reduced to 46. Twenty more of those will die by age 26. From the 26 of the

initial 100, ten more will die leaving only 16 that live to 36. Of the 16, six more will die before

age 46, from this 10 still alive, four more will die. Leaving six people alive from the initial 100.

Of the 100 only 6 make it to age 56 and three to 66. By age 76 there is only 1 person in 100 still

living (Beale, 2009). Clearly homeostasis has taken a turn for the worse during the 18th and 19th

century.

(c) How does nutrition apply in this situation?

Nutrition

As far as nutrition in causing health and healing it did enter the behavioral homeostasis

Hippocrates, considered the "Father of Medicine” (WDM, 2009). He considered healthy foods to

be medicinal. Most often garlic was prescribed for infection and tumorous cases. He is known

for contributing the first law of medicine, which is to “Do no harm” (Collier & Son, 1993).
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Another nutritional cure was discovered by James Lind, who through trial and error realized

that oranges, lemons, and other fruits could cure a disease namely scurvy (WDM, 2009). The

experiments by Lind involved studying two groups of people, all of which had the disease. Some

were given fruit and fully recovered, while others were not and remained ill. Watching how the

fruit affected their physical or homeostatic health, he noted how their countenance and color

improved when the stimuli of fruit were ingested.

In Conclusion

How have technological advances in pharmaceuticals positively or negatively affected general

health?

Technological advances have definitely improved in many cases our health in a positive way.

The introduction to empirical studies as shown by the very early Lind experiment eventually

moved medicine from the dark ages to scientific study. However, today there are so many drugs

on the market, many of which can harm with side affects the previous healthy individual.

In the 21st century technological advances in predictive medicine include areas such as genetics,

allergic reactions, and certain medication. Technology aid in preventive medicine includes being

more proactive in posing inoculations, identifying at risk populations, and educating groups of

preventive treatments. Personalization is now possible with DNA sampling to identify genetic

flaws that will allow profiles to genetic remedial actions. These new advances are homeostatic

adaptations to behavioral scientific studies that can definitely have a positive affect on human

populations. At the same time the technological advances can cause tremendous problems when

there is no ethical guidelines or considerations. Without governance of how these resources are

instituted and controlled, we have experienced profit hungry pharmaceutical companies price

gouging the elderly into starvation. Drugs being released with deadly side effects that renders the
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patient less healthy after use than before. Examples are painkillers, heartburn medications, and

antibiotics that were approved by our FDA, though lethal. The deadly drugs profited the

pharmaceutical companies $5 billion dollars before they were pulled from retailers. Seven that

were cited are Posicor, Duract, Rezulin, Redux, Propulsid, Lotronex, for general health and

Acetaminophen which causes liver cancer (Faloon, 2004). Does history from the 1800s repeat

itself today?
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References

Beale, M. (2009). The Drug Story. Retrieved October 7, 2009 from

http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/vaccines/morris_beal.htm

Collier, P. F & Son. (1993). Oath and Law of Hippocrates. Retrieved October 7, 2009 from

http://nktiuro.tripod.com/hippocra.htm

Faloon, W. (2004). FDA Approves Deadly Drugs, Delays Lifesaving Remedies. Retrieved

October 7, 2009 from http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/may2004_awsi_01.htm

Herrington, J. (1997). Homeostasis: General Principles. Retrieved October 7, 2009 from

http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/library/cat-removed/u3aos21.html

OSA. (2009). Mercury and Health. Retrieved October 7, 2009 from

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/mercury/health_mercury.html

WDM. (2009). History of Medicine in America. Retrieved October 7, 2009 from

http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/history/history02.htm