The Mold in Dr. Florey's Coat
Author | : Eric Lax |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 307 |
Release | : 2004 |
ISBN-10 | : 0316859257 |
ISBN-13 | : 9780316859257 |
Rating | : 4/5 (57 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: "The story of how the mold's active ingredients were isolated and transformed into the world's first wonder drug is little known. Likewise the credit for penicillin development is largely misplaced; Eric Lax explains why almost everyone remembers Fleming and almost no one remembers Florey and Chain. The development of penicillin was the last of four advances in a period of 150 years to deal effectively with infection. Unlike the other three discoveries, whose lifesaving qualities were immediately evident, the efficacy of the penicillin mold could not be determined until Florey's team performed its own laboratory magic.".