History of Dentistry

1. Practice reading the following English words. Guess their meanings.

Egypt[’iːdʒɪpt]
Japan[dʒə’pæn]
China [’tʃaɪnə]
Italy [’ɪt(ə)lɪ]
Europe[’jʊərəp]
Egyptian [ɪ’dʒɪpʃ(ə)n]
Sumerian [suː’mɪərɪən]
Etruscan [ɪ’trʌsk(ə)n]
Roman [’rəʊmən]
Chinese [tʃaɪ’niːz]
pulpitis [p∧l’paitis]
gingivitis [,dʒɪndʒɪˈvaɪtɪs]
idea [aɪ’dɪə]
hygiene [’haɪdʒiːn]
acupuncture [’ækjʊpʌŋ(k)tʃə]
special [’spɛʃ(ə)l]
prosthesis[prɒs’θɪ:sɪs]
[’prɒsθɪsɪs]
amalgam [ə’mælɡəm]
procedure [prə’siːdʒə]
restorative [rɪ’stɒrətɪv]
technique [tɛk’niːk]
anaesthesia [,ænəs’θiːzɪə]
caries[’kɛəriːz]
microbiologist [,maɪkrə (ʊ)baɪ’ɒlədʒɪst]
physicist [’fɪzɪsɪst]
fluoride [’flʊ(ə)raɪd]
result [rɪ’zʌlt]
laser [’leɪzə]
implant[ˈɪmplɑːnt], [ɪm’plɑːnt]
endodontics [,ɛndəʊ’dɒntɪks]
orthodontics [,ɔːθə’dɒntɪks]
periodontics [,periəʊ’dɒntɪks]
maxillofacial [mæk,sɪlə’feɪʃ(ə)l]
radiology [,reɪdɪ’ɒlədʒɪ]
pathology [pə’θɒlədʒɪ]
prosthodontics[,prɒsθə’dɒntɪks]
nitrous oxide[’naɪtrəs’ɒksaɪd]
decay [di'kei], premature ['premətʃə], promote [prə'məut], ancient ['einʃənt]
appearance [e'piərəns]

Vocabulary
disease [dɪ’ziːz] n болезнь, заболевание
ancient [’eɪnʃənt] а древний, старый
toothache [’tuːθeɪk] n зубная боль
treatment [’triːtmənt] n лечение, уход
treat [’triːt] v лечить
cause [kɔːz] n, v причина; вызывать, быть причиной
pain [peɪn] n, v боль; причинять боль
relieve [rɪ’liːv] v зд. облегчать, уменьшать (боль)
develop [dɪ’veləp] v развивать, совершенствовать
fill [fil] v зд. пломбировать (tofill cavities)
replace[rɪ’pleɪs] v заменять, сменить
extract [ɪk’strækt] v зд. удалять (зубы)
invent [ɪn’vent] v изобретать
prohibit [prə’hɪbɪt] v запрещать
source [sɔːs] n источник, начало, первопричина
decay [dɪ’keɪ] n, v разрушение (tooth decay); гнить, разрушаться
cavity [’kævitɪ] n полость, дупло (в зубе)
bridge [brɪdʒ] n мост, зубной протез
achievement [ə’tʃiːvmənt] n достижение
supply [sə’plaɪ] n снабжение (water supply)
discover [dɪ’skʌvə] v обнаруживать, найти, делать открытие
reduce [rɪ’djuːs] v понижать, сокращать, уменьшать
drill [dril] n, v сверло, бор; сверлить
bleaching [’bliːtʃɪŋ] n отбеливание
eventually [ɪ’ventʃʊəlɪ] adv в итоге, в конце концов

2. Complete the sentences using the words in the box.

Treatment, fill, toothache, treat, bridge, pain, disease, cause, bleaching, extracted
 1. Dental caries is a common oral … in children.
2. I have got terrible….
3. A dentist is a person who is qualified to… diseases of the teeth and gums.
4. You can take this medicine to relieve the….
5. Dental …, also known as tooth whitening, is a common procedure in general dentistry.
6. Dentists use different materials to… cavities.
7. Sometimes dentists recommend that wisdom teeth should be….
8. What is the most common… of pulpitis?
9. A periodontist is a specialist who specializes in the diagnosis, … and prevention of periodontal
diseases.
10. A … is a fixed dental prosthesis.

3. Memorize the following collocations (sintagme). Make sentences with some of them.
• to fill a cavity • to practice dentistry
• to date back to… • to have toothache
• to extract a tooth • general anaesthesia
• to relieve pain • oral hygiene
• to perform an • false teeth
operation • tooth decay
• to play an important • a major source of …
role
• to make a discovery
4. Read the following questions on the history of dentistry. How many of them can you answer?
Questions
Text A
1. What information on teeth can we find in ancient Egyptian medical texts?
2. Who was the earliest known dentist?
3. What was the cause of dental caries and pain, according to Sumerians?
4. What kind of dental procedures could the Etruscans perform?
5. How did the Romans take care of their teeth?
6. What did the Chinese invent in the field of dentistry?
Text B
1. Who practiced dentistry in Europe in the Middle Ages?
2. Who is called «the father of dentistry»? Why?
3. Where and when was the first dental school opened?
4. Who was the first to use an aesthesia in dentistry?
5. What discovery did Miller make? Why was it important?
6. How did the invention of X-ray help dentists?
Text C
1. When was Novocaine invented? How important was it for dentistry?
2. What discovery was made in the USA in the early 20th century?
3. When did the Americans begin to fluoridate water supply? Why?
4. What dental procedures became popular in the1990s?
5. What dental specialties are there nowadays?

History of Dentistry
Dental diseases have remained remarkably similar throughout history. Decay, toothaches, periodontal
disease and premature tooth loss were documented in ancient chronicles. The exact time that dental art made
its appearance isn't known; however, there is a proof of its existence among the civilizations of Egypt,
Etruscans of Central Italy, Assyrians, China, etc.
The Indus Valley Civilization in Pakistan has evidence of dentistry being practiced as far back as 7000
BC. This earliest form of dentistry involved curing tooth related disorders with bow drills operated, perhaps,
by skilled bead craftsmen. The reconstruction of this ancient form of dentistry showed that the methods used
were reliable and effective.
 A Sumerian text from 5000 BC describes a "tooth worm" as the cause of dental caries. Evidence of this
belief has also been found in ancient India, Egypt, Japan, and China. The legend of the worm is also found
in the writings of Homer, and as late as the 1300s AD the surgeon Guy de Chauliac still promoted the belief
that worms cause tooth decay.
The first known dentist was an Egyptian named Hesi-Re (3000 B.C.). He was the chief toothist to the
Pharaohs. He was also a physician, indicating an association between medicine and dentistry. At about the
same time there was also the first evidence of a surgical operation in Egypt. Though the contribution of the
Greeks was mostly on the medical side, the ancient Greek physicians, such as Hippocrates, Aristotle wrote
about dentistry, advised cleaning of teeth, described extraction forceps, stated that consumption of sweets
produce decay.
The first use of dental appliances or bridges comes from the Etruscans from as early as 700 BC.
The Romans were not especially gifted in their dental art. They borrowed their medicine from the Greeks
and restorative dentistry from the Etruscans. But there were several physicians who made a great
contribution into the dentistry. Archigenus recognized pulpitis, invented the dental drill to open into pulp
chamber.
Galen was the first to recognize that a toothache could be pulpitis and pericementitis. He classified teeth
into centrals, cuspids and molars. At the onset of the Middle Ages, barbers became physicians and dentists.
Their practice was limited to extracting teeth which relieved pain and chronic tooth infection. In the 14th
century, French surgeon Guy de Chauliac was first to coin the term dentator and dentists. The English term
dentist came from his original terms. He also invented the dental pelican (resembling a pelican's beak) which
was used up until the late 18th century. Before restorative dental care was popular (or possible), the only
treatment for dental pain was extraction of the teeth, resulting in partial or complete edentulism.
Unfortunately in those times there were no materials or techniques for making good dentures. But in 1400
Giovanni de Arcoli was the first to fill teeth with gold. In 17th century French physician Pierre
Fauchard started dentistry science as we know it today, and he has been named "the father of modern
dentistry".

Text A
Diseases of the teeth and gums have troubled people for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptian medical
texts, dating back to 3500 BC provide information about toothaches, pulpitis, erosion and gingivitis. The
earliest known dentist was Hesi-Re an Egyptian «doctor of the tooth» who lived around 3000 BC.
The Sumerians believed that dental caries was caused by a «tooth worm». Evidence of this belief has also
been found in ancient India, Egypt, Japan, and China. The idea that a worm travelled through your mouth
and was the cause of dental pain lasted in Europe until the16th century.
The Etruscans, who lived in Italy between1000 and400 BC, produced the first dental bridges. They used
gold crowns and fixed bridge work to hold the teeth together.
The Romans were very careful about their oral hygiene. They used a special powder for cleaning their
teeth. Dinner guests were usually given gold picks to remove particles of food. The Romans also treated
tooth aches, filled cavities, made dental prosthesis (false teeth) and replaced extracted teeth.
In China toothaches were treated with acupuncture. They used thin needles to relieve dental pain. The
Chinese had developed a silver amalgam paste for filling cavities in teeth by the 7th century, nearly 1,000
years before amalgam was used in Europe The Chinese also invented the earliest bristle toothbrush in the
15th century.
 Text B
During the Middle Ages, from the 5 th to the 15th century, dentistry was not a profession in itself. By the
12th century monks had performed dental procedures. However in the early 12th century monks were
prohibited to perform operations. Then barbers (цирюльники) began to practice dentistry. They not only cut
hair but also extracted teeth.
In the 18th century dentistry became more scientific. It began to take its modern form in1728 when
Frenchman, Pierre Fauchard [fou′ʃa:r], published his book The Surgeon Dentist. In his book he described the
anatomy of teeth and the jaws, various operative and restorative techniques, and effectively separated
dentistry from surgery. That’s why Pierre Fauchard was called «the father of modern dentistry». He used
dental prostheses, introduced dental fillings as treatment for dental caries and also explained that acids from
sugar area major source of tooth decay.
The 19th century witnessed several developments that revolutionized the field. Organized dentistry began
in 1840 when the world’s first dental school, the Baltimore College of Dental School, opened in Baltimore,
Maryland (the USA). The use of general anaesthesia in dentistry began in1844 when Connecticut dentist
Horace Wells first used nitrous oxide (or laughing gas) to relieve pain during a dental procedure.
In 1890 American dentist and the first oral microbiologist Willough by D. Miller discovered that caries is
caused by acids produced by oral bacteria. Miller’s work played an important role in preventing dental
caries. The invention of the X-ray in1895 by German physicist Wilhelm C. Roentgen helped dentists to
examine teeth for hidden cavities and decay. The first dental X-ray was made in1896.

Text C

The greatest achievements of the modern dentistry began in the early 1900s. One of the achievements was
the invention of Novocaine in1901. It helped to provide pain free dental procedures.
The other achievement was the discovery that fluoride prevented caries. Scientists found that people who
lived in Colorado (the USA) had low rates of tooth decay. It was discovered that they drank water which
contained fluoride, a naturally occurring element found in rocks and minerals. In1945 a water fluoridation
program was begun in the USA. Ten years later the test results showed that tooth decay in participating
children was reduced by 50 to70 percent. Now most of the US water supply is fluoridated. The first fluoride
toothpastes were developed in the 1950s.
The field of dentistry continued to develop. In1957, John Borden invented the first high speed electric
hand drill. In the 1960s, the first dental lasers were developed and used for soft tissue procedures. The1990s
marked the beginning of the era of cosmetic dentistry, with the increased popularity of bleaching and dental
implants.
Dentistry eventually evolved into specialized practices that include endodontics, orthodontics,
periodontics, oral and maxilla facial surgery, radiology and pathology, pediatric dentistry, and
prosthodontics.
 5. Take turns to retell your text in detail to your partners to enable them to answer the
corresponding questions.
6. Discuss in groups.
• What information did you find surprising?
• Can you share other interesting facts about the history of dentistry with your group mates?

7. Approve or contradict the following:

1. Dental diseases have changed a lot since ancient times.
There is an evidence of dental practice dated back up to 1000 BC.
2. The earliest form of dentistry included tooth filling, caries curing, treatment of periodontal diseases
and so on.
3. An Egyptian text from 5000 BC describes a "tooth worm" as the cause of dental caries.
4. The ancient form of dentistry showed that the methods used were reliable and effective.
In the 1300s BC the surgeon Guy de Chauliac still promoted the belief that worms cause tooth decay

8. Skim the text and look for the answers to the following questions:
1. Who was Hesi-Re?
2. What is Greeks contribution into the dentistry?
3. What were the Etruscans famous for?
4. What famous Roman dentists do you know?
5. Who invented dental drill?
6. What was Galen’s discoveries?
7. Who coined the term “dentist”?
8. What did the treatment of teeth usually result in?
9. What was Giovanni de Arcoli’s invention?

9. Choose the proper continuation of the following sentences:

1. The first known dentist was …
2. … wrote about dentistry, advised cleaning of teeth and extractions, described extraction forceps and
so on.
3. The first dental appliances were used by …
4. Galen classified teeth into …
5. Archigenus invented …
6. … invented the dental pelican.
7. In ancient times the only treatment for dental pain was …
8. Pierre Fauchard has been named …

TEST
1. 1. The exact time of dentistry appearance is …
a) about 2000 year
b) unknown
c) aproximally 700 years
d) not defined
e) 500 years
2. … recognized pulpitis, invented the dental drill to open into pulp chamber.
a) Hesi-Re
b) Giovanni de Arcoli
c) Archigenus
d) Galen
e) Aristotle
3. The first evidence of dentistry being practiced as far back as 7000 BC was found in …
a) Egypt
b) Pakistan
c) China
d) Greece
 e) Roman Empire
4. The first use of dental appliances or bridges comes from … from as early as 700 BC.
a) the Greeks
b) the Romans
c) the Etruscans
d) the Egyptians
e) the Japanese
3. 5. … invented the dental pelican which was used up until the late 18th century.
a) Giovanni de Arcoli
b) Archigenus
c) Guy de Chauliac
d) Pierre Fauchard
e) Galen
4. 6. The legend of the worm …in the writings of Homer.
a) founds
b) is found
c) founded
d) was founded
e) was found
7. The only treatment … dental pain was extraction … the teeth, resulting … partial or
complete edentulism.
a) of …by … of
b) for … on … for
c) in ... in … in
d) with … from … by
e) from … of … from
8. At … barbers became physicians and dentists.
a) ancient times
b) medieval times
c) nowadays
d) prehistoric times
e) the times of Roman Empire
9. Pierre Fauchard … "the father of modern dentistry".
a) was named
b) has been named
c) is named
d) names
e) named
10. The Romans borrowed their medicine from … and restorative dentistry from …
a) the Greeks
b) the Romans
c) the Etruscans
d) the Egyptians
e) the Japanese

10. Express in one word

Pulpitis a dental plate containing one or more artificial teeth that are secured to the
surrounding natural teeth

Drill a tooth having one point

Bridge any of the teeth at the back of the jaw used for crushing and chewing food

Cuspid rotating tool that in inserted into drill machine

Molar inflammation of the pulp

11. Work in pairs. Make short dialogues according to the model.

Model: – I’ve already translated the text.
– Have you really translated the text?
– Yes, I have. And you?
– No, I haven’t translated the text yet.
1. I’ve already passed the exam.
2. I’ve already read an article on dental caries.
3. I’ve already done my chemistry homework.
4. I’ve already seen this film
5. I’ve already been to Europe.
6. I’ve already visited the dentist.
7. I’ve already participated in an international conference.
12. Complete the sentences with the Present Perfect form of the verbs in brackets.
1. Ann is not here. She… (already / to leave for) home.
2. Recently scientists… (to develop) a new pain-free filling that allows cavities to be repaired without
drilling or injections.
3. We… (not/ to hear) about this method of treatment yet.
4. I… (not/ to see) Mike today.
5. What countries… (you/ to be) to?
6. The dentist… (already / to extract) a tooth.
7. … (he/ to take) medicine to relieve the pain?
8. The surgeons… (already / to perform) two operations this morning.
9. Where… (your friend/ to go)?
10. We… (not/ to graduate from) medical academy.
13. Put the verb into the correct form (Present Perfect or Past Simple).
1. My friend is a writer. He… (to write) many books.
2. We… (not/ to have) a holiday last year.
3. I… (to play) tennis yesterday afternoon.
4. What time… (you/ to go) to bed last night?
5. … (you/ ever / to meet) a famous person?
6. The weather … (not/ to be) very good yesterday.
7. My hair is wet. I… (just/ to wash) it.
8. I… (to wash) my hair half an hour ago.
9. Kathy travels a lot. She… (to visit) many countries.
10. «Is Sonia here?» – «No, she… (not/ to come) yet».
11. My brother … (graduate from) our academy last year.
12. We… (not/ have) a holiday this year.
13. … (you/ see) Ann yesterday?
14. What time… (you/ come) home?
15. I… (never / meet) a famous person.
16. The weather … (not/ be) very good this week.
17. Sue is no there. She… (leave for) her studies.
18. Where… (you / be) last night?
19. I am ready now. I… (finish) my work
14. Open the brackets, putting the verbs in brackets into the correct form and translate the sentences:
5. I (to suffer) never from such a horrible headache.
6. Your rapid recovery (to depend) on properly administered treatment.
7. Last night she (to have) an attack of acute pain in the left lower molar.
8. The blood (to drop) slowly from the wound.
9. Dentists (to achieve) much progress in treating periodontal diseases in recent years.
10. The earliest types of dentistry (to include) treatment of dental diseases mostly by tooth extraction.

15. Practice reading the following English words. Guess their meanings.
operative[’ɒp(ə)rətɪv] plastic [’plæstɪk]
carious[’kɛərɪəs] reconstruction[,riːk(ə)n’strʌkʃ(ə)n]
principle[’prɪnsəpl] structure[’strʌktʃə]
phrase[freɪz] angioplasty [’ændʒiːə(ʊ)’plæstɪ]
demonstrate[’demənstreɪt] implantology [,ɪmplɑːn’tɒlədʒɪ]
malocclusion[mælə’kluːʒ(ə)n] manufacturer [,mænjʊ’fæktʃ(ə)rə]
ether [’iːθə] orthopedic [ˌɔːθə’piːdɪk]
material [mə’tɪərɪəl] osseointegration[,ɒsɪəʊɪntɪˈɡreɪʃ(ə)n]
coin[kɔɪn] v зд. создавать, вводить в оборот (новое слово, выражение)
appliance[ə’plaɪəns] n приспособление, устройство
devise [dɪ’vaɪz] v разрабатывать, изобретать
excruciating [ɪks’kruːʃɪeɪtɪŋ] а мучительный
conduct[kən’dʌkt] v проводить (операцию, исследование, опыт и т. д.)
denture[’dentʃə] n зубной протез
perfect[pə’fekt] v совершенствовать
impression[ɪm’preʃ(ə)n] n зд. оттиск, слепок dental impression оттиск зубов и альвеолярного
отростка)
available [ə’veɪləbl] а доступный

16. Read the text and answer the questions above.

History’s Most Famous and Significant Dentists
Pierre Fauchard [fou′ʃa:r]
Born in 1678, Pierre Fauchard is the most important modern dentist in history. This French physician is
known as the «father of modern dentistry». In1728, he wrote the influential The Surgeon Dentist in which he
covered dental anatomy, pathology, operative dentistry, and even topics in periodontics and orthodontics.
This was the first comprehensive scientific description of dentistry.
Greene Vardiman Black
More often known as G. V. Black, this American dentist (born in1836) is known as the «father of operative
dentistry». Heals organized Black’s Classification of Carious Lesions which is still used by dentists today
(with the exception of one more Class added in more recent times: the Class VI). Known for his principles
of tooth preparation, he coined the phrase «extension for prevention». G. V. Black also perfected dental
amalgam and studied how fluoride helps to protect the teeth.
 The Black’s Classification of Carious Lesions
Edward Hartley Angle
Born in1855, this American dentist is known as the «father of modern orthodontics». Edward dedicated
his life to standardizing, teaching, and practicing orthodontics. Known for his Angles Classification which is
still used widely today by both general dentists and orthodontists, heal so coined the term ‘malocclusion’.
Angle went onto invent many appliances for orthodontic treatment and devised numerous surgical
techniques.
William Thomas Green Morton and Horace Wells
The pain from dental work was so excruciating that people often avoided seeing dentists. American
dentists Horace Wells and William Thomas Green Morton are both considered the founding fathers of
general anaesthesia. Wells, who worked with nitrous oxide, conducted his first anaesthetized surgery
in1844. Around the same time, Morton demonstrated the use of ether as a general anaesthetic.
Charles Stent
An English dentist, born in1807, Stent actually perfected the dental impression material used for denture
making during his time. Later, in1916, a Dutch plastic surgeon used this material to support facial tissues as
a form of facial reconstruction, and thus coining the term ‘stents’. Today, although stents are made of newer
materials, the term ‘stent’ is still used to describe materials used to hold open bodily structures such as
cardiac vessels during angioplasties.
Per-Ingvar Brеnemark
Brеnemark was not actually a dentist, but rather a Swedish orthopedic surgeon. He is considered to be the
«father of modern dental implantology». Born in1929, Brеnemark studied osseointegration (the fusion of bone
to foreign material) and came up with implant methods. Today, the Brеnemark System of dental implants is
still used and is currently available from a private dental manufacturer.

17. Work with a partner. Ask and answer questions to find the missing information in the
statements on the history of dentistry.
a) Before you start, work out which questions to ask.
Student A
1. The earliest dental filling was made of ….
2. The first electric toothbrush, the Broxo dent, was invented in Switzerland in1954.
3. The first nylon bristled toothbrush with a plastic handle was invented in the USA in….
4. In the 19th century people believed that tooth decay was caused by worms.
5. Orthodontic brackets were invented by … in1915.
6. Fluoride was first added to toothpaste in1956.
7. … was invented in1840 by Dr. Levi Parmly, a dentist from New Orleans.
8. 100 yearsago50 % of adults in North America were toothless.
 9. Children in England and in Australia dropped their first baby tooth into a … in the belief it would keep
them free from toothache.
10. Pierre Fauchard was known as the «father of operative dentistry».
11. Novocaine was widely used in dentistry in the… century.
12. The first porcelain dentures were produced in… in1788.
13. The Maya people used gold and precious stones to decorate their teeth.
14. Greek philosopher Aristotle believed that women had only 28 teeth.
15. … was made in the 20th century.
16. In Europe the first book on dentistry was published in Germany in1530.
17. The Chinese invented… in1498.
18. The dental scanner was introduced in1987.
Student B
1. The earliest dental filling was made of beeswax
2. The first electric toothbrush, the Broxodent, was invented in… in1954.
3. The first nylon bristled toothbrush with a plastic handle was invented in the USA in1938.
4. In… Europeans believed that tooth decay was caused by worms.
5. Orthodontic brackets were invented by Edward Angle in1915.
6. …was first added to toothpaste in1956. 7. Dental floss was invented in1840 by Dr. Levi Parmly, a
dentist from New Orleans.
8. 100 years ago… % of adults in North America were toothless.
9. Children in England and in Australia dropped their first baby tooth into a mouse hole in the belief it
would keep them free from toothache.
10. … was known as the «father of operative dentistry».
11. Novocaine was widely used in dentistry in the late19th century.
12. The first porcelain dentures were produced in France in1788.
13. The Maya people used… to decorate their teeth.
14. …believed that women had only 28 teeth.
15. The first dental X-ray was made in the 20th century.
16. In Europe the first book on dentistry was published in Germany in….
17. The Chinese invented the toothbrush in1498.
18. The dental scanner was introduced in….
b) When you have finished, compare your answers and also try to work out which of the above
facts are completely untrue. (There are 4 altogether). While discussing refer to the information given
in the texts above. Use the following phrases:
––I don’t believe/ suppose/ think that…
––I think the statement about… is false.
––As far as I know / remember …

The Greatest Discoveries in Medicine

Here are some of the greatest discoveries in medicine of all time, showing how some medical
breakthroughs have revolutionized the world:
• Vaccination. The first successful vaccine was introduced by English physician Edward Jenner in1796.
He found that by deliberately infecting people with cowpox (a disease of cows) he could prevent them from
catching smallpox, a serious human disease, and that this was safer than inoculation with smallpox, which
had been done previously.
• Germ Theory. The germ theory states that some diseases are caused by microorganisms. The theory
was proved by French chemist Louis Pasteur in the 1860s. In the following decades, German scientist
Robert Koch developed Pasteur’s work and formulated four postulates to establish a causal relationship
between a causative agent and a disease.
 • X-ray. German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen is the discoverer of X-ray which is considered one
of the most important discoveries of all-time. X-ray allows us to see inside the human body, without having
to perform dangerous surgeries. With the use of the X-ray in medicine, scientists have been able to find the
causes of many diseases, and how to treat them.
• Vitamins. The study of vitamins and their role in cellular health began inthe19th century and continued
into the1900s. In1881 Russian scientist Nikolai Lunin concluded that foods contain small quantities of
unknown substances that are essential for good health. In1912 Polish biochemist Casimir Funk isolated a
complex of micro nutrients and called it «vitamine» (from «vital» and «amine»), but later the word was
shortened to «vitamin». One of the first vitamins to be discovered was vitamin A.
• Insulin. Inthe1920s, Canadian researcher Frederick Banting and his colleagues discovered the hormone
insulin, which helps balance blood sugar levels in diabetes patients and allows them to live normal lives.
Before insulin, diabetes meant a slow and certain death.
• Penicillin. The discovery of penicillin (the first antibiotic) by Alexander Fleming in1928 can be
considered to be one of the most important breakthroughs in the history of medicine. Prior to the discovery
of penicillin, death could occur from minor wounds that became infected or from diseases such as strep
throat. Then during World War II, penicillin became available. Infections that had frequently caused death
became cured after a few days. • DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid). The discovery of the DNA was made by
the Swiss physician Friedrich Miescher. It was first called as a «nuclein» because it resides in the nucleus of
a cell. DNA is the blueprint of a person because it holds the instructions how to build up some of the
components of the other various cells and tissues of the body.
• The Human Retrovirus (HIV). In the 1980scompeting scientists Robert Gallo (the USA) and Luc
Montagnier (France) separately discovered a new retro virus later dubbed HIV (human immunodeficiency
virus), and identified it as the causative agent of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
18. Are these statements true or false?
1. Edward Jenner was the first to inoculate people against smallpox.
2. Louis Pasteur proved that some diseases are caused by microorganisms.
3. X-ray was discovered by a German physician.
4. Russian doctor Nikolai Lunin was the first to isolate vitamins.
5. In1930s insulin was still unknown.
6. Insulin controls the amount of blood sugar in the body.
7. Before World War II there was no antibiotic available.
8. DNA was discovered by a Swedish researcher.
9. HIV was discovered by a team of scientists from one country.
10. HIV can develop into AIDS.
19. Discuss the questions in pairs.
1. Can you remember any other medical discoveries? What are they?
2. When were they made?
3. What is the significance of these discoveries for science and medicine?