"2000 B.C. - Here, eat this root.
1000 A.D. - That root is heathen; say this prayer.
1850 A.D. - That prayer is superstition; drink this potion.
1940 A.D. - That potion is snake oil; swallow this pill.
1985 A.D. - That pill is ineffective; take this antibiotic.
2000 A.D. - That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root."
(Copyright © Paul Cilwa All Rights Reserved . Used Only Under Permission of Owner)

The above statements show that people are always arguing on what you should take for your problem. Pharmaceutical needs have changed over and over again. Sometimes, people say you need this or you need that, but no one ever agrees.

The next section briefly shows how the medicine has evolved through the last 1000 years.

A.D. 1500-1780 - People wanted to start exploring the worlds of medicine but did not throw away their superstitious beliefs. The lawmakers lifted a law that kept people from dissecting a human body, so medicinal studies could take place. Medicinal studiers were now respected as a physician, as they were treated as a butcher or barber. Instead of cauterizing wounds, doctors started using stitches and forms of bandages.

A.D. 1800-1900 - The world's population skyrocketed, which brought about many new diseases, one of which is tuberculosis. Morphine, cocaine, heroin, and opium were treatments that could cause addiction and relieved pain, but people didn't know exact dosages and accidentally killed themselves.

A.D. 1901-2000 - Since health conditions were improving, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that the life expectancy of a human would reach 67 years in 1950. In 1900, the life expectancy was about 47 years. People may well live into their 70's, says the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Since vaccines, better nutrition and surgery improvement have come around, better health is around the corner.