- People have used drugs derived from plants to treat illnesses and other physical conditions for thousand of years
- The ancient Greeks used the bark of a white willow tree to relive pain. The bark contained salicylic acid, the natural forerunner of the active ingredient in aspirin
- Cocaine was the first effective local anesthetic
To Modern Medicine
- The average life span in the United States increased by over 30 years since 1900
- In World War I, more soldiers died from infections than the wounds themselves; in World War II, the mass production of the antibiotic penicillin saved thousands of lives and was seen as a critical factor in the success of the Allied Forces
Medicine Through the Ages
- The foxglove plant contains digitalis, which has been widely used in treating heart disease
- Louis Pasteur's experiments showed that microorganisms cause food spoilage, and that heat can be used to kill them and preserve the food
- Frederick Banting and Charles Best showed that an extract of the hormone insulin lowered blood sugar in dogs and might be useful in the treatment of diabetes
- Alexander Fleming discovered the antibiotic chemical, penicillin
- The Human Genome Project is an attempt to map the entire DNA sequence in the human genome. This information will provide a better understanding of hereditary diseases and how to treat them
Pharmacy Today
- To become a pharmacist in the U.S., an individual must graduate from an accredited college of pharmacy, pass a state licensing exam, and perform an internship working under a licensed pharmacist
- Once licensed, pharmacist must receive continuing education to maintain their license
- The cost of health care in the U.S. from 1970 to 2000 rose by over 1500 percent
- Medication Therapy Management services provide patients with a comprehensive look at all of the medications they are taking rather than consultation on only the prescriptions dispensed on a given day
Computers in Pharmacy
- Computerized pharmacy management systems put customer profiles, product, inventory, pricing, and other essential information within easy access. One result has been that pharmacies and pharmacists dispense more prescriptions and information than ever before
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