In 1901, Austrian-American Karl Landsteiner discovers blood compatibility and rejection. With this idea he developed the ABO blood typing system we still use today. With this new discovery, the first successful blood transfusion was performed in 1907.
Then next major medical advancement takes place in 1913, when Dr. Paul Dudley White becomes one of America's first cardiologists. He was one of the first doctors to use the electrocardiograph (tracks heart beats, rhythms, and abnormalities) as a diagnostic tool. In 1922, for the first time insulin was used to treat diabetes. Prior to this, Diabetics were put on extremely strict diets with minimal carbohydrate intake, some only allowing about 450 calories a day. Diabetics had short lifespans, and some even died of starvation due to the lack of food they consumed trying to treat this disease. Insulin gave diabetics the freedom to live close to normal lives, and saved millions. Insulin is still used today as a treatment in many patients with diabetes. |