Scientific medicine has evolved over millennia from early practices in ancient China, Egypt, India and Sri Lanka to modern evidence-based medicine. Key developments include Hippocrates establishing professionalism in Greek medicine in 460 BC, Avicenna describing clinical trials in 10th century Persia, Vesalius pioneering human dissection in 1543, Harvey discovering blood circulation in 1628, Pasteur establishing germ theory in 1857, and modern technologies like MRI, CT scans, DNA fingerprinting, IVF and cancer vaccines.

1. Evolution ofEvolution of
scientific medicinescientific medicine
Prof. Vajira WeerasingheProf. Vajira Weerasinghe
Professor of PhysiologyProfessor of Physiology
Department of PhysiologyDepartment of Physiology
Faculty of MedicineFaculty of Medicine
University of PeradeniyaUniversity of Peradeniya

2. Chinese medicineChinese medicine
 Known to have started in 2650 BCKnown to have started in 2650 BC
 Classical Classical ChineseChinese belief that the life and activity of belief that the life and activity of
individual human beings have an intimateindividual human beings have an intimate
relationship with the environment at all levelsrelationship with the environment at all levels
 Include such treatments as Chinese herbal medicine,
acupuncture, dietary therapy, and both Tui na and
Shiatsu massage
 Scientific proof was lackingScientific proof was lacking
2650 BC

3. Egyptian medicineEgyptian medicine
 Recoded history says Egyptians were the first to practice medicine
 This medicine was highly advanced for the time, and included simple,
non-invasive surgery, setting of bones and an extensive set of
pharmacopoeia
 Egyptians knew anatomy, knew the connection between pulse and
heart
 Later descended down due to foreign invasions
1800 BC

4. 600 BC: Ancient Indian Surgeon600 BC: Ancient Indian Surgeon
SusrutaSusruta
Susruta Samhita is a great Ayurvedic surgical treatise written by Susruta, a surgeon in
Varanasi about 600 BC. Because of the language difficulty, it has been practically
inaccessible to the modern world so far.
600 BC

5. Ancient Medicine in CeylonAncient Medicine in Ceylon
400 BC
 King Pandukabhaya (437-366 BC) in the fourthKing Pandukabhaya (437-366 BC) in the fourth
century constructed an Ayurvedic hospital - thecentury constructed an Ayurvedic hospital - the
first recorded hospital in the worldfirst recorded hospital in the world
 The history of medical care began early inThe history of medical care began early in
ceylonceylon
 Later King Buddhadasa (337-365 AD) himself aLater King Buddhadasa (337-365 AD) himself a
physician of great repute, appointed a physicianphysician of great repute, appointed a physician
to be in charge of every ten villagesto be in charge of every ten villages

6. Birth of western medicineBirth of western medicine
 Allopathic medicineAllopathic medicine
 allopathic medicine refers to "the broad categoryallopathic medicine refers to "the broad category
of medical practice that is sometimes calledof medical practice that is sometimes called
western medicine, biomedicine, scientificwestern medicine, biomedicine, scientific
medicine, or modern medicine"medicine, or modern medicine"

7. HippocratesHippocrates
460 BC – 370 BC
 Considered to be the “Father of Medicine”
 A greek physician and teacher of medicine
 The first physician to reject superstitions, legends and
beliefs that credited supernatural or divine forces with
causing illness
 Hippocratic medicine was notable for its strict
professionalism, discipline and rigorous practice
 He recommend that the physicians always be well-
kempt (dressed), honest, calm, understanding, and
serious
 Hippocratic oath was named after him

8. AvicennaAvicenna
 Persian (Iranian) physician and philosopher
 He wrote the “Canon of Medicine”
 He describe
contagious diseases and sexually transmitted diseases
the introduction of quarantine to limit the spread of infectious
diseases
the introduction of experimental medicine
clinical trials
neuropsychiatry
risk factor analysis
and the idea of a syndrome in the diagnosis of specific
diseases and hypothesized the existence of microrganisms
980 - 1037

9. Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci
 The world famous Italian painter was an anatomist
as well
 He became a master of topographic anatomy,
drawing many studies of muscles, tendons and other
visible anatomical features
 He has done many experiments in neuroscience
1489

10. Andreas VesaliusAndreas Vesalius
He was an anatomist and a physician
born in Brussels
He is often referred to as the founder
of modern human anatomy
He made a trademark illustration of
the brain in which he depicts the corpus
callosum, the thalamus and many other
important structures for the first time
1543

11. Vesalius dissecting human bodyVesalius dissecting human body
(1500)(1500)
In the mid-1500s, Andreas Vesalius and then others did their own dissections and found
out that frequently the authorities were mistaken. This was one of the revolutions in the
history of medicine.
1500

12. Barber-surgeonsBarber-surgeons
 In the old days in UK there were no surgeonsIn the old days in UK there were no surgeons
 Barbers did removing a nail and other surgeriesBarbers did removing a nail and other surgeries
 Later they splitLater they split
 Even to date in UK, surgeons are called Mr. whereasEven to date in UK, surgeons are called Mr. whereas
physicians are called Dr.physicians are called Dr.
1540

13. William HarveyWilliam Harvey
 Was an English PhysicianWas an English Physician
 Anatomical Study of the Motion of theAnatomical Study of the Motion of the
Heart and of the Blood in AnimalsHeart and of the Blood in Animals
 His famous book was called “De MotuHis famous book was called “De Motu
Cordis”Cordis”
 He added the critical experimental finding
that blood is "pumped" around the body by
the heart
1628

14. Antonie van LeeuwenhoekAntonie van Leeuwenhoek
 Dutch tradesman and scientistDutch tradesman and scientist
 Considered to be the first Considered to be the first microbiologistmicrobiologist
 He is best known for his work on theHe is best known for his work on the
improvement of theimprovement of the microscopemicroscope
 Using his handcrafted microscope he wasUsing his handcrafted microscope he was
the first to observe and describe singlethe first to observe and describe single
celled organismscelled organisms
1700

15. Pasteur, Lister & KochPasteur, Lister & Koch
 18571857
Louis PasteurLouis Pasteur (French chemist & microbiologist)(French chemist & microbiologist)
identifies germs as cause of diseaseidentifies germs as cause of disease
 18671867
Joseph ListerJoseph Lister (British surgeon) develops the use(British surgeon) develops the use
of antiseptic surgical methods and publishesof antiseptic surgical methods and publishes
“Antiseptic principle of the practice of surgery”“Antiseptic principle of the practice of surgery”
 18701870
Robert KochRobert Koch (German Physician) and Louis(German Physician) and Louis
Pasteur establish the germ theory of diseasePasteur establish the germ theory of disease

16. Claude BernardClaude Bernard
 French physiologistFrench physiologist
 He was the first to define the term: “milieuHe was the first to define the term: “milieu
interieur” (the internal environment) andinterieur” (the internal environment) and
describe the principle of homeostasisdescribe the principle of homeostasis
 He was one of the first to suggest the use ofHe was one of the first to suggest the use of
blind experiments to ensure the objectivity ofblind experiments to ensure the objectivity of
scientific observationsscientific observations
1865

17. Santiago Ramón y Cajal
 A Spanish neuroscientistA Spanish neuroscientist
 He pioneered investigations of theHe pioneered investigations of the
microscopic structure of the brain andmicroscopic structure of the brain and
described the “neurone”described the “neurone”
 He shared the Nobel Prize for Physiology orHe shared the Nobel Prize for Physiology or
Medicine with Camillo Golgi in 1906Medicine with Camillo Golgi in 1906
for their contribution to the structure of thefor their contribution to the structure of the
nervous systemnervous system
1894

18. Ivan PavlovIvan Pavlov
 RussianRussian physiologistphysiologist, , psychologistpsychologist,,
and physicianand physician
 He was awarded the Nobel Prize inHe was awarded the Nobel Prize in
Physiology or Medicine in 1904 for researchPhysiology or Medicine in 1904 for research
pertaining to the digestive systempertaining to the digestive system
 He described “the conditioned reflex” usingHe described “the conditioned reflex” using
dogs salivationdogs salivation
1897

19. Wilhelm RoentgenWilhelm Roentgen
 German physicistGerman physicist
 Discovered XRayDiscovered XRay
 He received the first Nobel Prize inHe received the first Nobel Prize in
Physics in 1901Physics in 1901
1901

20. E.H. StarlingE.H. Starling
– British Physiologist– British Physiologist
 He described the famous "Frank-Starling law of theHe described the famous "Frank-Starling law of the
heart“heart“
 The discovery of peristalsis, with BaylissThe discovery of peristalsis, with Bayliss
 The discovery of secretin, the first hormone, withThe discovery of secretin, the first hormone, with
Bayliss (1902) and the introduction of the concept ofBayliss (1902) and the introduction of the concept of
hormones (1905)hormones (1905)
 The discovery that the distal convoluted tubule of theThe discovery that the distal convoluted tubule of the
kidney reabsorbs water and various electrolyteskidney reabsorbs water and various electrolytes
1915

21. First human heart transplantFirst human heart transplant
1967
The world's first human heart transplantThe world's first human heart transplant
was performed by Christiaan Barnardwas performed by Christiaan Barnard
on December 3, 1967 in Cape Townon December 3, 1967 in Cape Town
South AfricaSouth Africa

22. First CT ScanFirst CT Scan
1971
 Sir Godfrey Newbold HounsfieldSir Godfrey Newbold Hounsfield
(English electrical engineer) and(English electrical engineer) and Allan
McLeod Cormack (South African Physicist)
 Shared the 1979 Nobel Prize for PhysiologyShared the 1979 Nobel Prize for Physiology
or Medicine for this inventionor Medicine for this invention

23. MRI ScanMRI Scan
1974-2001
 Peter Mansfield (british physicist) and PaulPeter Mansfield (british physicist) and Paul
Lauterbur (US chemist)Lauterbur (US chemist)
 Awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in PhysiologyAwarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physiology
or Medicine for his discoveries concerningor Medicine for his discoveries concerning
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

24. First Test-tube BabyFirst Test-tube Baby
 Every year, millions of couples try to conceive aEvery year, millions of couples try to conceive a
child; unfortunately, many find that they cannotchild; unfortunately, many find that they cannot
 On July 25, 1978, Louise Joy Brown, the world'sOn July 25, 1978, Louise Joy Brown, the world's
first successful "test-tube" baby was born infirst successful "test-tube" baby was born in
Great BritainGreat Britain
 Dr. Patrick Steptoe, a gynecologist at OldhamDr. Patrick Steptoe, a gynecologist at Oldham
General Hospital, and Dr. Robert Edwards, aGeneral Hospital, and Dr. Robert Edwards, a
physiologist at Cambridge University, UKphysiologist at Cambridge University, UK
performed this procedureperformed this procedure
1978

25. DNA FingerprintingDNA Fingerprinting
 Genetic, genomic, or DNA fingerprinting is the termGenetic, genomic, or DNA fingerprinting is the term
applied to a range of techniques that are used toapplied to a range of techniques that are used to
show similarities and dissimilarities between theshow similarities and dissimilarities between the
DNA present in different individualsDNA present in different individuals
 Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of LeicesterSir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester
developed DNA fingerprinting in the mid 1980sdeveloped DNA fingerprinting in the mid 1980s
 The sequence of nucleotides in DNA is similar to aThe sequence of nucleotides in DNA is similar to a
fingerprint, in that it is unique to each personfingerprint, in that it is unique to each person
 DNA fingerprinting is used for identifying people,DNA fingerprinting is used for identifying people,
studying populations, and forensic investigationsstudying populations, and forensic investigations
1980s

26. Use of DNA Fingerprinting in SriUse of DNA Fingerprinting in Sri
Lanka during Tsunami periodLanka during Tsunami period
- Baby 81- Baby 81
The baby, around 2 months old, was reportedly found on theThe baby, around 2 months old, was reportedly found on the
beach of the town of Kalmunai on the day of the disaster, 26beach of the town of Kalmunai on the day of the disaster, 26
December 2004, in the midst of debris caused by the tsunamiDecember 2004, in the midst of debris caused by the tsunami
No relatives were found in the vicinity, so he was taken toNo relatives were found in the vicinity, so he was taken to
Kalmunai hospitalKalmunai hospital
He was said to be the 81st victim taken to that hospital after theHe was said to be the 81st victim taken to that hospital after the
tsumani hit Sri Lanka, and so named Baby 81tsumani hit Sri Lanka, and so named Baby 81
Eight couples had claimed baby 81 was theirs. The questionEight couples had claimed baby 81 was theirs. The question
ended up with a judgeended up with a judge
The judge had DNA for identification. Testing by molecularThe judge had DNA for identification. Testing by molecular
biologists soon found the real parentsbiologists soon found the real parents
2004

27. Dolly – the first cloned the sheepDolly – the first cloned the sheep
1996

28. The first vaccine against cancerThe first vaccine against cancer
2010
 In April 2010, USA approved the first cancer treatmentIn April 2010, USA approved the first cancer treatment
vaccinevaccine
 This vaccine is approved for use in some men with metastaticThis vaccine is approved for use in some men with metastatic
prostate cancerprostate cancer
 It is designed to stimulate an immune response to It is designed to stimulate an immune response to prostaticprostatic
acid phosphataseacid phosphatase(PAP), an antigen present on most prostate(PAP), an antigen present on most prostate
cancerscancers

30. No amount of experimentation
can ever prove me right; a
single experiment can prove
me wrong.
Albert
Einstein 1879 -