The document summarizes the evolution of medicine and medical nursing from prehistoric times to the 20th century. It describes how in early civilizations like Egypt and Babylon, medicine developed diagnostic techniques and herbal treatments. In India, Ayurveda and texts like Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita detailed medical knowledge. The 19th century saw advances in anesthesia, antisepsis, and the rise of modern medicine. Nursing transitioned from intuitive care by women to the establishment of formal training schools influenced by Florence Nightingale in the 19th-20th centuries, which served as models for specialized and advanced nursing education and roles in the 20th century.
2. Evolution of medicine
Prehistoric medicine
· Plants were used for medicinal purposes(herbalism)
· Use of plants ,clay's and soil in ancient time.
3. Early civilization:
Egypt
· Developed larger, varied fruitful medical tradition.
Herodotus describes robed the Egyptians as " the healthiest of all men"
· Imphotep in the 3rd dynasty is credited for being the founder of ancient Egyptian medicine.
· Earliest women physician “peseshet”.
Babylonians
There is a diagnostic handbook written by “umnanu “or chief scholar. It includes various ways of
inspection, examination of symptoms and treating with bandages, herbs etc
4. India
· ‘Atharvana Veda” from early iron age is one of the first Indian text dealing
with medicine.
· Ayurveda- meaning of complete language of long life is another system of
India. "Charaka" and "Susrutha" writes most famous texts related to medicine and
surgery.
· Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita.
· Another alternative form is Unani during the Muhal period.
5. 19th century: rise of modern medicine
It is changed in the face of rapid advance in science and new approaches by physicians
• More systematic
• Anesthesia techniques
• Antiseptic and aseptic principles
• Advances in epidemiology
• Bacteriology and virology
• Women as nurses and physicians
6. 20th century:
• Large scale multi specialty hospitals
• Mobile hospitals
• Public health awareness programs
• Post second world war ii
• Modern surgeries and Equipments and advanced diagnostic procedures
8. Period of intuitive nursing:
· In period of olden days, nursing was untaught. Nursing was performed of their
own wish to help others
· Nursing was a profession that belonged to women. She is expected to take
care of children, sick and aged
· No care giving training is evident. It was based on experience and
observation
· Primitive man believed that illness was caused by the invasion of the evil
spirits in to the victim;s body and doctor has the power to heal it by using magic
9. Period of Apprentice Nursing:
• In this period also nursing was performed without any formal education. But the people were
directed to more experience
• This kind of nursing was developed by Christian Church
• Nursing went down to the lowest level
• There was acute shortage of nurses to take care for the sick and so many hospitals closed
• Nursing became the work of undesirable women like prostitutes and prisoners
• 1st formal training school for nurses started in Germany
11. Period of Educated Nursing / Nightingale Era- 19th
and 20th century
• During this period development of nursing was strongly influenced by
Crimean war and civil war
• Arousal of social consciousness
• Increased educational opportunities
• Florence Nightingale recruited female nurses to provide care for sick and injured
in the Crimean war.
• In 1860 the Nightingale training school of nurses opened in St. Thomas Hospital London.
• The school served a as a model for other training school
• The school provided both the theory based knowledge and clinical skills
12. Period of Contemporary Nursing /20th century
• During this period nursing field much developed and nurse can work only with her license
• Started specialty hospitals
• Advanced training for nurses in diploma programs
• Development of Baccalaureate and advanced training programme
• Nursing involvement in community area
• Technological advancement and disposable supplies
• Establishment of WHO by USA
• Expanded roles of nurses
• Computer were used in data collection, diagnosis, inventory and patient records
• Use of sophisticated equipments for diagnostic therapy