Scientists discovered how to purify and preserve penicillin
In 1940, Howard Florey, Ernst Chain and others in England discover how to purify and preserve penicillin. The…
The influenza B virus was isolated
In 1940, Thomas Francis, Jr, MD isolated the influenza B virus from a child in 1940. Francis helped…
First sign of antibiotic resistance to Penicillin was reported
In 1940, Edard Abraham and Ernst Chain reported that an E. coli strain was able to inactivate penicillin…
Agriculture | Biology | Diagnostics | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | NIH | Therapeutics | Vaccine
Herald R. Cox discovered that rickettsiae could be cultivated successfully in the yolk-sacs of chick embryos
On Dec. 23, 1938, Herald R. Cox published: Use of Yolk Sac of Developing Chick Embryo as Medium…
Mary Mallon, also known as Typhoid Mary, died in quarantine on North Brother Island near New York
On Nov. 11, 1938, Mary Mallon, also known as Typhoid Mary and the first person in the U.S.,…
Toxoplasma gondii was identified in humans
On May 23, 1938, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondi) was identified in humans gondii was identified in an infant…
President Roosevelt founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis and the March of Dimes to fight polio
On Jan. 3, 1938, President Roosevelt founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP) known today as the…
Gordon E. Davis and Herald R. Cox identified a new rickettsial disease, which they called Nine Mile Fever
In 1938, Gordon E. Davis and Herald R. Cox identified a new rickettsial disease, which they called Nine…
John Bozicevich developed immunological methods for the diagnosis of helminth parasitic infections
In 1938, John Bozicevich developed immunological methods for the diagnosis of helminth parasitic infections. Helminthiasis, also known as…
Margaret Pittman showed precipitin reaction around meningococcus colonies on immune serum was correlated with mouse potency assay
In 1938, Margaret Pittman showed that the precipitin reaction around meningococcus colonies on immune serum agar plates was…
Dr. Armand Frappier conducted the first studies to validate the tuberculosis vaccine
In 1938, Dr. Armand Frappier, at the Institut de Microbiologie et d’Hygiene de Montreal, conducted the first studies…
Maurice C. Hall developed a technique, known as the “NIH swab,” to diagnose enterobiasis
In 1937, Maurice C. Hall developed a technique, known as the “NIH swab,” to diagnose enterobiasis; it is…
Maurice C Hall, Willard H Wright and colleagues launched a series of studies that demonstrated the extent of human trichinosis in the U.S.
On Aug. 19, 1938, Maurice C. Hall, Willard H. Wright and colleagues published Studies in Trichinoisis that demonstrated…
Margaret Pittman, Sara E. Branham, and E. M. Sockrider showed type specificity of meningococcus by use of the Petrie’s precipitin test
In 1937, Margaret Pittman, Sara E. Branham, and E. M. Sockrider showed the type specificity of meningococcus by…
First description of human toxoplasmosis
In 1937, Albert Sabin and Peter Olitsky demonstrated that the parasiteToxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) was an obligate intracellular…
Albert Sabin and Peter Olitsky successfully grew poliovirus in a culture of brain tissue
In 1936, Albert Sabin and Peter Olitsky at the Rockefeller Institute successfully grew poliovirus in a culture of…
The Yellow Jack, co-written by Sidney Howard and Paul de Kruif was published
In 1934, The Yellow Jack, co-written by Sidney Howard, a Pulitzer- and Oscar-winning playwright and screenwriter, and Paul…
Scientists created the first filter able to trap viruses
On Jul. 8, 1933, Christopher Andrewes, Laidlaw and W Smith from the Medical Research Council (MRC) reported that…
Agriculture | Biotechnology | Diagnostics | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | USDA | Veterinary
New World screwworm migrated to Southeast U.S.
In 1933, the New World Screwworm (NWS) was first documented as a significant problem in the Southeast following…
Dogsled relay in Alaska delivered antitoxin serum to Nome to combat deadly diphtheria outbreak
On Feb. 2, 1925, a life-or-death race to save the children of Nome from a diphtheria epidemic made…
Future President of the U.S. Franklin D Roosevelt became a victim of polio
In 1921, future President of the U.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) became a victim of polio at the…
Edward Francis extended the earlier observations on tularemia
In 1919, Edward Francis extended the earlier observations on tularemia. His other studies, continued into the 1920s, clarified…
The University of Oregon began offering courses in nursing
In 1919, the University of Oregon in Eugene introduced the state’s first professional courses in nursing. The courses…
Nebraska Board of Health made influenza a mandatory quarantine disease
On Dec. 24, 1918, on Christmas Eve, with the epidemic across Nebraska still raging, the state Board of…
Louisville Health Officer Baker implemented another influenza closure order for the city
On Dec. 12, 1918, following a second spike in influenza cases especially among schoolchildren, Louisville Health Officer Dr….
Kansas City closed schools again following a spike in children’s influenza cases
On Nov. 30, 1918, after having reopened schools earlier in the month, Kansas City closed schools again following…
St. Louis health commissioner ordered another school closure, and banned children under 16 from public gatherings
On Nov. 27, 1918, after a spike in influenza cases including several children, St. Louis health commissioner Dr….
Over 18,000 influenza cases had been reported to Detroit’s Department of Health
By Nov. 20, 1918, over 18,000 influenza cases had been reported to Detroit’s Department of Health, and almost…
The Influenza Advisory Committee announced the end to the influenza ban in Los Angeles
On Nov. 18, 1918, the Los Angeles Influenza Advisory Committee announced the end to the influenza ban, effective…
Both Minneapolis and St Paul’s influenza closure orders were lifted
On Nov. 15, 1918, Minneapolis and St. Paul’s influenza closure orders were lifted. Vaudeville and burlesque and movie…