Ancient period 1550 BC: (EG) The Ebers Papyrus describes ancient Egyptian inhalation treatments for asthma. Eighteenth Century (1700s) 1771: (US) Carl Scheele (1742–1786) makes "fire air" (oxygen) by heating magnesium oxide. His findings are published in June 1774. 1774: (US) Joseph Priestley (1733–1804), credited with the discovery of oxygen, publishes his work on "dephlogisticated air" oxygen 3 months after a report by Carl Scheele. Nineteenth Century (1800s) 1816: (US) Rene T.H. Laennec (1776–1856) invents the stethoscope for chest auscultation and lays the foundation for modern pulmonology with his book Diseases of the Chest. 1860: (US) Bunsen and Kirchhoff invent the spectrometer. 1860: (US) Stokes and Hoppe-Seyler demonstrate the oxygen transport function of hemoglobin. 1897: (DE) Gustav Killian performs the first bronchoscopy in Germany. 1899: (US) Dr. Thomas Willis defines specific Asthma symptoms for diagnosis. Twentieth Century (1900s) 1900-1920 1908: (US) George Poe demonstrated his mechanical respirator by asphyxiating dogs and seemingly bringing them back to life. 1918: Oxygen masks are used to treat combat-induced pulmonary edema. 1920-1940 1928: Phillip Drinker develops the "iron lung" negative pressure ventilator. 1935: Carl Matthes invented the first noninvasive oximeter employing an ear probe. 1940-1960 1943: Dr. Edwin R. Levine, MD began training technicians in basic inhalation therapy for post-surgical patients. 1946: (US) Dr Levine and his technicians formed the Inhalation Therapy Association. 1954: (US) March 16, 1954 the ITA is renamed the American Association of Inhalation Therapists (AAIT). 1966: (US) February 1966, the ITA was again renamed the American Association for Inhalation Therapy (still, AAIT). 1956: (US) The AAIT begins publishing a science journal, Inhalation Therapy (now RESPIRATORY CARE). 1960: (US)In October 1960 The American Registry of Inhalation Therapists (ARIT) is formed to oversee examinations for formal credentialing for people in the field. 1960-1980 1961: (US) Sister Mary Yvonne Jenn becomes the first Registered Respiratory Therapist 1961: Metaproterenol, the beta-2 bronchodilator is introduced. 1964: (CA) The Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists (CSRT) is founded in 1964 as the Canadian Society of Inhalation Therapy Technicians. 1970: (US) In 1970 The Board of Schools of Inhalation Therapy Technicians became the Joint Review Committee for Respiratory Therapy Education (JRCRTE). 1971: (US) Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is introduced by Gregory. 1971: (US) The journal Inhalation Therapy is renamed to Respiratory Care. 1974: (US) The two US credentialing programs merge into a single credentialing organization called the National Board for Respiratory Therapy (NBRT) in 1974. 1980: (US) President