IPE 304 Introduction to
Epidemiology – Study Guide
for Exam #1 – 2026 Latest
Update
History of Epidemiology
1. What did Hippocrates do?
A. Created the smallpox vaccine
B. First Epidemiologist and Father of Medicine
C. Discovered penicillin
D. Developed vital statistics system
Ans: B. First Epidemiologist and Father of Medicine
Rationale: Hippocrates is considered the first epidemiologist
and the Father of Medicine. He described disease from a
rational basis, subscribed to atomic theory, observed that
different diseases occur in different locations, noted that
malaria and yellow fever occur in swamps, and distinguished
between epidemic and endemic diseases.
2. What did Edward Jenner do?
A. Discovered penicillin
B. Created the smallpox vaccine using material from cowpox
victim
C. Published Die Aetiologie der Tuberkulose
D. Developed the "Bills of Mortality"
Ans: B. Created the smallpox vaccine using material from
cowpox victim
Rationale: Edward Jenner created the first vaccine using
material from a cowpox victim (dairymaid). He injected the
vaccine into an 8-year-old boy by cutting his arm, and the
boy did not get ill. This led to the development of the
smallpox vaccine.
3. What did John Snow do?
1
, A. Discovered penicillin
B. Created the smallpox vaccine
C. Example of both a descriptive and analytic epidemiologic
study; Father of Epidemiology
D. Developed vital statistics system
Ans: C. Example of both a descriptive and analytic
epidemiologic study; Father of Epidemiology
Rationale: John Snow is known as the Father of
Epidemiology. His work on cholera in London is an example
of both a descriptive and analytic epidemiologic study.
4. What did John Graunt do?
A. Created the smallpox vaccine
B. "Bills of Mortality" recording information about people who
died
C. Discovered penicillin
D. Published Die Aetiologie der Tuberkulose
Ans: B. "Bills of Mortality" recording information about
people who died
Rationale: John Graunt created the "Bills of Mortality,"
which recorded information about people who died, laying
the foundation for vital statistics.
5. What did William Farr do?
A. Discovered penicillin
B. Extended use of vital statistics; developed vital statistics
system; promoted idea of multifactorial etiology
C. Created the smallpox vaccine
D. First Epidemiologist and Father of Medicine
Ans: B. Extended use of vital statistics; developed vital
statistics system; promoted idea of multifactorial etiology
Rationale: William Farr extended the use of vital statistics,
developed the vital statistics system, and promoted the idea
of multifactorial etiology.
6. What did Alexander Fleming do?
A. Created the smallpox vaccine
B. Discovery of penicillin: discovered the antimicrobial
2
Epidemiology – Study Guide
for Exam #1 – 2026 Latest
Update
History of Epidemiology
1. What did Hippocrates do?
A. Created the smallpox vaccine
B. First Epidemiologist and Father of Medicine
C. Discovered penicillin
D. Developed vital statistics system
Ans: B. First Epidemiologist and Father of Medicine
Rationale: Hippocrates is considered the first epidemiologist
and the Father of Medicine. He described disease from a
rational basis, subscribed to atomic theory, observed that
different diseases occur in different locations, noted that
malaria and yellow fever occur in swamps, and distinguished
between epidemic and endemic diseases.
2. What did Edward Jenner do?
A. Discovered penicillin
B. Created the smallpox vaccine using material from cowpox
victim
C. Published Die Aetiologie der Tuberkulose
D. Developed the "Bills of Mortality"
Ans: B. Created the smallpox vaccine using material from
cowpox victim
Rationale: Edward Jenner created the first vaccine using
material from a cowpox victim (dairymaid). He injected the
vaccine into an 8-year-old boy by cutting his arm, and the
boy did not get ill. This led to the development of the
smallpox vaccine.
3. What did John Snow do?
1
, A. Discovered penicillin
B. Created the smallpox vaccine
C. Example of both a descriptive and analytic epidemiologic
study; Father of Epidemiology
D. Developed vital statistics system
Ans: C. Example of both a descriptive and analytic
epidemiologic study; Father of Epidemiology
Rationale: John Snow is known as the Father of
Epidemiology. His work on cholera in London is an example
of both a descriptive and analytic epidemiologic study.
4. What did John Graunt do?
A. Created the smallpox vaccine
B. "Bills of Mortality" recording information about people who
died
C. Discovered penicillin
D. Published Die Aetiologie der Tuberkulose
Ans: B. "Bills of Mortality" recording information about
people who died
Rationale: John Graunt created the "Bills of Mortality,"
which recorded information about people who died, laying
the foundation for vital statistics.
5. What did William Farr do?
A. Discovered penicillin
B. Extended use of vital statistics; developed vital statistics
system; promoted idea of multifactorial etiology
C. Created the smallpox vaccine
D. First Epidemiologist and Father of Medicine
Ans: B. Extended use of vital statistics; developed vital
statistics system; promoted idea of multifactorial etiology
Rationale: William Farr extended the use of vital statistics,
developed the vital statistics system, and promoted the idea
of multifactorial etiology.
6. What did Alexander Fleming do?
A. Created the smallpox vaccine
B. Discovery of penicillin: discovered the antimicrobial
2
