Medical Milestones

"In protecting against disease and safeguarding health, more has been accomplished during the twentieth century than in all the previous history of Man."

The American Medical Association, along with local medical societies, presented a series of short syndicated broadcasts in 1961 titled Medical Milestones which described many of those advances. The spots are brief, each barely five minutes in length, but convey an appreciation for the art and science of medicine from which all humanity benefits.

The first episode in the series is about the vital healing relationship between doctor and patient. The series continues by exploring the ravages of arthritis, the important advances in simple emergency techniques like mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the work of eye banks to restore sight in patients whose sight was lost due to corneal scarring, and the acceptance that alcoholism is the manifestation of a mental disease. Traffic safety as a branch of preventative medicine is discussed, while treatment of blindness as the result of premature birth is revealed. The development of the heart-lung machine allowed surgeons to finally open the mysteries of treating the heart while physical medicine and rehabilitation restore the lives of those who suffer injuries. Finally, the tenth and final episode shows the tragedy or and the newly developed surgical treatment for blue-babies who are born with heart defects.

The advances in medicine between the dawn of the twentieth century and the time these broadcasts were recorded in 1961 are nothing short of miraculous. The same amount of time has passed since then, and not only has the pace of development not slowed, the benefits of that progress are available to even more people.

See also: Vaccines and Plagues in Old Time Radio, The Doctor Fights, Medicine USA, Medical File, Doctor John Brinkley (Medical Quack), Quack Doctors in Old Time Radio, and Cancer and Tumors.