|
 |
 Matthew
Alexander Henson became the
first man to reach the North Pole by
"land" on April 6, 1909, a full
45 minutes before the leader of the
expedition, Robert Peary. |
|
 Matthew
Fontaine Maury published the
first popular textbook on marine science,
Physical Geography of the Sea,
in 1855. During the Civil War, his work
for the Confederacy led to a $3,000 price
being put on his head, second only to the
price put on the head of Confederate
President Jefferson Davis. |
|
| |
|
 Trephination
was the most
spectacular practice of very early
medicine. The operation consisted of
opening the scalp to uncover the cranial
bone, cutting out a round or square piece
of bone, cleansing and dressing the
opening and, finally, replacing the scalp
flap. |
|
|
|
