The Developments of the 20th century

11. During the first seventy years of the 20^th century many discoveries were made in the treatment and prevention of disease. In 1901 Karl LandSteiner discovered the blood groups. Some diseases are not caused by germs or infections but by the lack of certain substances in our food. The discovery of vitamins in 1912 was very important to provide people with a properly balanced diet. In 1922 Sir Frederick Banting found that insulin was very effective against diabetes.

12. Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by Dr. Alexander Fleming who became the founder of the modern science of antibiotics. Penicillin was used in hospitals to reduce infections in wounds during the Second World War. Streptomycin and a series of anti-infection drugs were discovered after penicillin. All these drugs are known as antibiotics.

13. A drug known as sulphanilamide was discovered in 1935. It became the first of the “miracle” drugs (чудодейственное лекарство) which gave immediate and amazing results in the treatment of many infectious diseases including pneumonia.

14. During the two world wars, great advances were made in the field of plastic surgery, in which skin, bone or muscles was taken from one part of the body and then was transplanted to a badly injured area in another part.

15. Great progress was made in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, bacterial and viral infections, kidney disorders and other main causes of death and disability (потеря трудоспособности). The individual of today will live longer and healthfully than ever before.

Topic 55 . Pavlov I.P.

1. Read the text Pavlov I.P. – man and scientist

Ivan Petrovich Pavlov was born on September 14, in 1849 in Ryazan. When he was still a very little boy he helped his father on his farm. His father taught him to read books.

In 1870 Pavlov entered Petersburg University to study natural sciences. Soon he decided to become a physiologist himself.

During his work at the Academy Pavlov discovered some new facts about the blood pressure.

In 1881 Pavlov got married. His wife was a wonderful help and companion to him. Their marriage was a very happy one.

In 1890 Pavlov began to lecture on physiology in the Military Academy. Many of his ideas were new to the students and he was a very popular lecturer. His lectures were simple and clear. He didn’t use notes since his memory was wonderful. He allowed students to interrupt him and gladly answered their questions.

Pavlov studied the work of the digestive system. He made many experiments on dogs. He had to make operations on dogs and as he loved animals he treated his dogs with great kindness and they showed no fear of him. Pavlov never operated unless it was necessary and he always used anaesthetics. He was a very skilful surgeon and his dogs generally recovered very quickly. Pavlov made great contribution to medical science.

When he was an old man of seventy-four he worked as hard as ever. He rose at 7 o’clock each morning, ate a simple breakfast of tea and bread-and-butter. He worked nine or ten hours a day.

A few years before his death he addressed the youth of our country:

1. Be systematic in your work.

2. Never try to hide the defects in your knowledge.

3. Never imagine that you know everything.

4. Remember that the important thing is enthusiasm. Science demands of a man his whole life.

Pavlov, the great Russian scientist, died on February 27, 1936 at the age of eighty-six.