Ross Granville Harrison, Alexander Fleming, and historical figures who advanced medicine

¶ … People From History That Impacted the World in a Positive Way

Three People from History

Three People from History who impacted the World in a Positive Way

Ross Granville Harrison (1807 -- 1959)

Ross Granville Harrison was an American zoologist. He is known for his discovery of a method of growing cells outside of the body. In his famous experiment carried out in 1906 he placed a piece of a frog's embryonic nerve tissue into a drop of frog lymphatic fluid, and saw that the nerve tissue did not die, but rather continued to grow. (Ross Granville Harrison) The method that Harrison developed from this experiment was to form the foundation of the tissue culture technique used in modern medicine and in medical research. This technique has become an extremely important part of contemporary medical research as it allows for "…the study of isolated living cells in a controlled environment." (Ross Granville Harrison).

Harrison did not win a Nobel Prize for his discovery but many scientists and scholars felt that he should have received the highest accolade for his groundbreaking work. There is little doubt that the results of his research were extremely beneficial to medicine and the health of mankind. For example, one of his students devised a test for mumps using the technique devised by Harrison. His methodology was also used in the growth of polio virus cultures, leading to development of polio vaccine. (Ross Granville Harrison).

What is striking about the biography of this scientist is both his intellectual curiosity as well as his sense of ethics and morality. His intense intellectual curiosity can be in his continual research on scientific and biological problems. This is evident in that he "… spent hours in his laboratory pondering the development of the nervous system." (Finger 285) He unceasingly searched for answers to difficult questions; such as "What are the factors that influence the laying down of the nerve paths during embryonic development?" (Finger 285)

However, while I admire his intellectual ability and curiosity, I also admire him as a person. He had strong moral and ethical views. This is evident in his opposition to the British government during the First World War, when he objected to that government's blockade of Red Cross shipments of hospital supplies intended for the Germany, and Bulgaria. After his retirement from Yale University he continued his active life as chairman of the National Research Council.

3. Edward Jenner (1749-1823)

Edward Jenner is famous for his discovery of a vaccination against smallpox. In understanding the significance of this discovery one should bear in mind that smallpox was a very serious problem in the world at that time. It was responsible for the deaths of millions of people, which included a large percentage of young children. Because of his discovery, in combination with other doctors and researchers, the vaccine that was created has in effect eradicated smallpox as a serious disease in the world. In fact the last recorded case of this disease was in Somalia in 1977. In 1980 the World Health Assembly "…officially declared 'the world and its peoples' free from endemic smallpox." (Edward Jenner 1749-1823)

This great achievement resulted in various rewards and honorary degrees for Edward Jenner. He was awarded an honorary MD degree for his work by the University of Oxford in 1813. A museum was also dedicated to Jenner after his death in 1823.

What is also impressive about his life and work is that he was a true researcher with vision. He saw possibilities that others tended not to see. This can be seen in the vision and intuitive intellect that was required to discover the smallpox vaccine. Jenner was aware of the local folklore that linked cowpox to immunity to smallpox. Using this knowledge he therefore attempted to see if the practice of inoculation could be applied to the prevention of smallpox. He daringly inoculated the son of a local farmer with cowpox. When the boy was later exposed to smallpox he was found to be immune. Jenner later published his research finding in a study entitled Inquiry into the Cause and Effects of the Variolae Vaccinae in 1798. ( Who2 Biography: Edward Jenner) This led to the term vaccination becoming a household term throughout the world.