Modern Medicine
Medicine on the Decline of Mortality: The Effects of Sulfa and Penicillin Drugs During the Early-Mid 20th Century
Sections:
1. Introduction
2. Background
-Sulfa Drugs
-Penicillin
3. Data/Methods
4. Results
5. Conclusion
1. Introduction: The journey of modern medicine has come a long way. Medical advances has improved lives and increased life expectancy from the early 20th century to present day. It wasn’t until the 1930’s and 1940’s where the production of sulfa drugs and penicillin (respectively) opened up a new horizon for the medical field. Many argue that medical advancements do not affect the decline of mortality, but rather the improvement in better living standards, better nutrition, public health improvement, and household hygiene are the main reasons why mortality had declined from the early 20th century to the mid 20th century (McKeown 1976). Using the research Journal called, “Modern medicine and the 20th Century Decline in Mortality: New Evidence on the Impact of Sulfa Drugs”, created by Seema Jayachandran (Stanford University and National Bureau of Economic Research), Adriana Lleras-Muney (UCLA and NBER), and Kimberly V. Smith (Princeton University), I will discuss the origin of sulfa drugs and how these drugs prospered over its few years of popularity in treating sick patients of infectious-bacterial diseases. It was the first drug of its kind and was a cheap and efficient treatment available to pretty much anyone. I will also examine the later “wonder drug”, penicillin, through the U.S. Army Medical Department: Office of Medical History and a PDF published volume called, “Changes in the Age Distribution of Mortality over the Twentieth Century” (Author: David M. Cutler, Ellen Meara). Penicillin was a vital component to the allies of World War 2 and wasn’t exposed to the public until after the war. Though these drugs are different from each other and in the chemical make up, they would still accomplish the curing
Sections:
1. Introduction
2. Background
-Sulfa Drugs
-Penicillin
3. Data/Methods
4. Results
5. Conclusion
1. Introduction: The journey of modern medicine has come a long way. Medical advances has improved lives and increased life expectancy from the early 20th century to present day. It wasn’t until the 1930’s and 1940’s where the production of sulfa drugs and penicillin (respectively) opened up a new horizon for the medical field. Many argue that medical advancements do not affect the decline of mortality, but rather the improvement in better living standards, better nutrition, public health improvement, and household hygiene are the main reasons why mortality had declined from the early 20th century to the mid 20th century (McKeown 1976). Using the research Journal called, “Modern medicine and the 20th Century Decline in Mortality: New Evidence on the Impact of Sulfa Drugs”, created by Seema Jayachandran (Stanford University and National Bureau of Economic Research), Adriana Lleras-Muney (UCLA and NBER), and Kimberly V. Smith (Princeton University), I will discuss the origin of sulfa drugs and how these drugs prospered over its few years of popularity in treating sick patients of infectious-bacterial diseases. It was the first drug of its kind and was a cheap and efficient treatment available to pretty much anyone. I will also examine the later “wonder drug”, penicillin, through the U.S. Army Medical Department: Office of Medical History and a PDF published volume called, “Changes in the Age Distribution of Mortality over the Twentieth Century” (Author: David M. Cutler, Ellen Meara). Penicillin was a vital component to the allies of World War 2 and wasn’t exposed to the public until after the war. Though these drugs are different from each other and in the chemical make up, they would still accomplish the curing