Modern Medicine is the medical practice resulting from scientific and technical advances made in recent centuries. It is a combination of art (the creative skill and practice derived from practical experience) and science (basic and applied medical sciences). For example, while the technique of stitching is an art, the knowledge of what happens at the cellular and molecular level during this procedure comes from science.

Until the second half of the nineteenth century, most doctors practised what they believed to be best without being informed by solid research results. For instance, Hippocrates endorsed a system of herbalism, and bloodletting was widely used to balance the four humours (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile).

Breaking Boundaries: The Innovations and Impact of Modern Medicine

The changes in modern medicine accelerated at the turn of the nineteenth century as a result of important scientific breakthroughs. The separation of veterinary from human medicine in 1761, the development of the first x-ray machine, and Edward Jenner’s discovery of a vaccine against smallpox all paved the way for modern pharmacology, surgery, and the understanding of germ theory.

Today’s medical doctors have excellent knowledge about the causes of disease and a great deal can be achieved with minimal harm. Modern surgery is far more accurate and safer than it ever was, and drugs are tailored to individual patients’ physiological processes to minimize side effects. This knowledge has also enabled a more precise diagnosis of the condition causing the patient’s symptoms, and governments have moved on from the laissez-faire attitude to a hands-on role in public health.