It's almost impossible to imagine life without modern medicine and health facilities. However, many of the technologies and procedures we take for granted weren't even available 100 years ago. Many forms of anesthesia had been tried for centuries, but in 1846 a dentist named William T. G.
Morton was the first to demonstrate the use of ether anesthesia for surgery. This event marked the invention of modern anesthesia, which allowed for painless treatment even during complex procedures. Godfrey Hounsfield developed the first commercial CT scanner, which was first applied to a patient in London. He later received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1979 for his work.
In addition to our wonderful stopcock and our Safe2 rotator, we strive to continue innovating new solutions that protect medical personnel and allow them to provide better care to their patients. Modern medicine can trace some of its fundamental principles back to the 19th century, such as germ theory and sterilization. Some of the key diagnostic tools commonly used by doctors today were also invented in the 19th century; the stethoscope is a good example. Learn more about the diverse ways in which Johns Hopkins Medicine helped develop and improve the fields of health, medical education, and research.