4th Edition
By
Watkins
,Chapter 1: History of Pharmacology
1. Who is often regarded as the "father of modern pharmacology"?
o A) Sir William Osler
o B) Paracelsus
o C) Hippocrates
o D) John Snow
Correct Answer: B) Paracelsus
Rationale: Paracelsus is considered the father of modern
pharmacology due to his contributions to the understanding of
the therapeutic properties of chemicals and medicines.
2. Which early practice is considered a precursor to modern
pharmacology?
o A) Bloodletting
o B) Herbal medicine
o C) Surgery
o D) Acupuncture
Correct Answer: B) Herbal medicine
Rationale: Herbal medicine was one of the earliest forms of
pharmacology, as plants have been used for healing purposes for
centuries.
3. The first synthetic drug, Salvarsan, was used to treat which
disease?
o A) Tuberculosis
o B) Syphilis
o C) Malaria
o D) Smallpox
Correct Answer: B) Syphilis
Rationale: Salvarsan, developed by Paul Ehrlich, was the first
synthetic antimicrobial drug used to treat syphilis.
4. In which century did the scientific foundation of pharmacology
begin to form?
o A) 15th century
o B) 17th century
o C) 19th century
, o D) 21st century
Correct Answer: C) 19th century
Rationale: The 19th century marked the beginning of modern
pharmacology, with advancements in drug discovery and
clinical pharmacology.
5. Which of the following is credited with developing the first drug
classification system?
o A) William Withering
o B) Edward Jenner
o C) Friedrich Serturner
o D) Oswald Schmiedeberg
Correct Answer: A) William Withering
Rationale: William Withering is known for developing a system
to classify the medicinal properties of plants, particularly
digitalis, in the 18th century.
6. The discovery of the first antibiotic, penicillin, is attributed to
which scientist?
o A) Louis Pasteur
o B) Alexander Fleming
o C) Joseph Lister
o D) Robert Koch
Correct Answer: B) Alexander Fleming
Rationale: Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928,
revolutionizing the treatment of bacterial infections.
7. Which of the following represents a major milestone in the
history of pharmacology?
o A) The discovery of the circulatory system
o B) The development of chemotherapy for cancer
o C) The invention of the microscope
o D) The understanding of DNA structure
Correct Answer: B) The development of chemotherapy for
cancer
Rationale: The development of chemotherapy marked a major
, advance in treating cancer, significantly impacting
pharmacology.
8. Who discovered insulin, a breakthrough in the treatment of
diabetes?
o A) Albert Einstein
o B) Frederick Banting
o C) Joseph Lister
o D) Edward Jenner
Correct Answer: B) Frederick Banting
Rationale: Frederick Banting, along with Charles Best,
discovered insulin in 1921, transforming the management of
diabetes.
9. Which of the following is the primary source of the majority of
modern drugs?
o A) Synthetic chemicals
o B) Plant extracts
o C) Animal products
o D) Microorganisms
Correct Answer: A) Synthetic chemicals
Rationale: The majority of modern drugs are synthesized in
laboratories, though plant and animal-derived compounds are
also important.
10. What major event in pharmacology occurred in 1906?
o A) The creation of the FDA
o B) The discovery of penicillin
o C) The establishment of the first pharmacy school
o D) The passing of the Pure Food and Drug Act
Correct Answer: D) The passing of the Pure Food and Drug
Act
Rationale: The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 laid the
groundwork for regulatory oversight of drugs and food products
in the U.S.
11. The first clinical trials to test drugs for safety were
conducted in which century?