Clinical Trials: History and Design Features

Lind in the 18th century on board the Salisbury, evaluated 6 different treatments for scurvy in 12 patients. He found that the two patients treated with oranges and lemons recovered quickly. Amberson in 1931 conducted the first clinical trial that randomly assigned patients to groups and masked patients as to the treatment received. Twenty four patients with tuberculosis were divided into two groups and by coin flip received either a gold compound, sanocrysin, or distilled water. In the last 30 years, clinical trials have emerged as the preferred method in the evaluation of medical intervention.