Home > True confessions > A Short History of Medicine

A Short History of Medicine

 history medicine egypt

2000 BC  -  Here, eat this root.

1000 AD  -  That root is heathen.   Here, say this prayer.

1850  -   That prayer is superstitious.  Here, drink this potion.

1920   -  That potion is snake oil.   Here, swallow this pill.

1945   -  That pill is ineffective.   Here, take this penicillin.

1955  – Ooops.  Bugs mutated.  Here, take this tetracycline.

1960-1999 -  39 more “Ooops”.  Here, take this more powerful drug.

2000  – The bugs have won.  Here, eat this root.

 Source:   British Medical Journal  (author unknown)

 

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  1. Eric Ng
    February 11, 2010 at 7:48 am | #1

    Love this. Wonderful and CONCISE history!

    Thank you for this and for all the fine work you do on this wonderful and always intriguing site. I’m a new subscriber and look forward to each new essay.

    You just never know what is going to come up next here!

  2. Ella B.
    January 19, 2010 at 8:58 pm | #2

    Well, this explains a lot in a nutshell.

    I am printing this off to post at our Clinic – our patients will get a kick out of this.

    THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. Marilyn in Memphis
    January 15, 2010 at 2:38 am | #3

    Love this! Thanks!

  1. March 11, 2010 at 9:34 am | #1