
The history of medical technology has gone a long way since performing rituals in the hopes of a cure. From the invention of the needle to theories of certain viruses, over the years we have continueously been developing new ideas about human health and new technologies to help the human race survive. Since there are so many different technological decives and machines that have helped us along the way, it is pretty difficult to pick just a few. However I did, so in this entry I'll be talking about two very common developments that we use today. The stethoscope and insulin.
A common device that doctors use for a regular examination is the stethoscope. The word 'stethescope' comes from the Greek words that mean chest (stetho) and 'to view' (scope). Before the stethoscope, the doctors from the early 19th century checked the chest by placing their ear on the chest and listening for irregular heartbeats and congestion of the lungs, that was called "'immediate auscultation". But French doctor Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec found that examination to be very uncomfortable, particularly when exminaing women. In 1816 Laennec created the very first stethoscope by using serveral sheets of paper to a cylinder. With the help of the first draft of the stethoscope, Laennec discovered that the cylinder can isolate the internal sounds and amplify the other side of the cylinder. With the creation of the stethescope, doctors and nurses are able to check the patient's chest cavity and blood flow without coming very close to their patients, which also decreases the chances of contacting diseases from the patients.
Another contribution to the field of medicine is the discovery of insulin. Discovered by Canadian doctors Frederick Banting and Charles Best, insulin helps the patient regulated the pancreas' production of insulin hormone. The treatment was discovered in the summer of 1921, after testing the newly discovered insulin on diabetic dogs. Following the treatment came more productions and purifications, it was first tested in 1922 on a diabetic, Leonard Thompson. The resullts were a success and insulin was quickly distributed world-wide.

Without insulin, the pancreas would become useless and the glucose would build up in the bloodstream, causing blindness, heart disease, kidney problems and many more. The disease, diabetes was a death sentence to anyone diagnosed with it, now, thanks to the help of insulin, diabetics can live with diabetes. Even though insulin has been a regular treatment for diabetics, it is not a cure for diabetes. The mission of finding a cure for diabetes still continues.
Insulin and the stethoscope are common medical instruments that we take for granted. They were huge steps for the world of medicine that we know today, all thanks to these innovative doctors. I believe that we can look forward to more inventions, discoveries and cures that will greatly benefit the medical world that will benefit everyone.
Sources:
http://www.discoveryofinsulin.com/Best.htm
http://www.discoveryofinsulin.com/Banting.htm
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0005203
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-stethoscope.htm
http://torontoist.com/attachments/toronto_kevinp/2008_11_08BantingAndBest640.jpg
http://individual.utoronto.ca/twix/anatomy/images/laennec1816.jpg
http://individual.utoronto.ca/twix/anatomy/twentieth.htm
Great blog Raven! I really liked how you wrote about these two very important discoveries. Both the stethoscope and insulin are huge technological breakthroughs in the medical world. Each of these findings are extremely useful, and are commonly used by doctors all over the world. Insulin is able to save the lives of many diagnosed with diabetes and the stethoscope provides an easier way to analyze blood flow and hear beat. I definitely agree with you that we do take advantage of these two marvelous inventions. They have taught us a lot about how the body works and provides us advancement in the field of medicine.
ReplyDeleteHey Raven!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your bio blog; it was very clear and to the point, not to mention informative.
The stethoscope is very important to doctors today. I cannot imagine how doctors used to test their patients without one. In the 19th century, as you said, they would place their ear on the patient’s chest. That definitely put them in danger of contracting the illness a patient has. With the invention of the stethoscope however, all that changes, as it helps keep the doctors themselves healthy, and keeps the patients comfortable.
The second discovery you discussed, is in my opinion, one of the greatest discoveries in history. The difference insulin has made in the world is incomprehensible, the amount of lives saved, unimaginable. Diabetes was considered a fatal disease before insulin was discovered. After the discovery however, there was hope. The discovery of insulin saved so many lives, by providing patients with diabetes with insulin because their pancreas is incapable of producing enough of it.
The two discoveries you discussed in your bio blog were very important, and I agree with you that we do take them for granted. We never had to experience life without them, but nevertheless we should be thankful for these two breakthroughs in medicine.
Intriguing blog Raven! I think technology and their products are starting to become quite innovative and the future looks surprising!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that the stethoscope is a very useful invention! Personally, I would also find very awkward and uncomfortable if a doctor listened to my chest with his bare ear. Besides that, the stethoscope checks out our heartbeat and our breathing. We experience this all the time at the doctors am i right?! Not only the stethoscope but as well as Insulin are breakouts in technology and we should be thankful, and take advantage of these! Again, lovely blog Raven! :)
Ravy! Nice blog, good choice of inventions. You're right I found it very hard to narrow down my list of which to discuss in my blog.
ReplyDeleteLike Clodia mentioned, we are very lucky we didn't have to live in a time without these inventions.
For unit 5 english biographies my group did a Top 10 list of Top 10 Canadian Inventors and Fredrick Banting came in at number two if I recall correctly! He not only improved the lives of Canadians but those all over the world. I'm sure those with diabetes in Canada would be proud to know the reason they are still alive is because of a great Canadian invention. Without this breakthrough they would not have anything close to a normal life.
I too look forward to more breakthroughs in the world of medical technology. Who knows maybe the cure to cancer will be discovered in our life time!
On a side note, back when there wasn't much technology to help us understand our internal body systems... think about how easy a biology course may have been.... Definitely no bio blogs back then! :)
Hey there Raven!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is filled with the most informative and interesting facts of technological devices that are used nowadays in our everyday lives. I find it amazing that you stated two of the most important devices that are used daily. I'm so glad that you chose to write about insulin and the stethoscope! From the comments that I have read above, I really do agree with Adrian. Like, I would honestly not want my doctor to stick his ears to my chest in hearing my heartbeat, it'd be so awkward. Thank you for smart people for inventing things like these!
Moving on, Frederick Banting is truly one of the most important inventors in Canadian history. He has made such a big impact of so many people's lives because of the invention of insulin, which was accidentally made. Wouldn't it be great if we each just coincidentally made something that was seriously important to our world's needs? That'd be quite exciting actually. Well we are definitely still waiting for the insanely smart ones, who will soon find a cure for one of the incurable defects of life, and sicknesses that scientists still have to concentrate more on.
Great blog overall, loved it :)
Hey Raven!
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog!
the facts your presented in your blog were straight to the point, very nformative, and not to mention, interesting! I agree with you 100 percent when you stated that the quality and quantity of technology has been icreasingly growing and has evolved over the past few decades! I specifically liked how you mentioned the Stethoscope. I too feel that this tool had such a great impact on the medical feild and without it, doctors and nurses would be lost! I liked how you mentioned the fact that the stethoscope allows doctors and nurses to check the patients heart beat, blood flow, breathing etc. without coming in contact with the patient. I never thought of this tool in a way that would help prevent the spread of diseases. You learn something new everyday! Hahaha
Your blog gave me a look back to when those older than us were not granted with a ton of medical tools or advanced technology which made me realize how fortunate we all are, and how lucky we are to be able to be aided to with reliable sources when we are in need.