The Demon Under The Microscope.

Thomas Hager

Physical

In Circulation

The Nazis discovered it. The Allies won the war with it. It conquered diseases, changed laws, and single-handedly launched the era of antibiotics. This incredible discovery was sulfa, the first antibiotic. In The Demon Under the Microscope, Thomas Hager chronicles the dramatic history of the drug that shaped modern medicine.

Sulfa saved millions of lives—among them those of Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr.—but its real effects are even more far reaching. Sulfa changed the way new drugs were developed, approved, and sold; transformed the way doctors treated patients; and ushered in the era of modern medicine. The very concept that chemicals created in a lab could cure disease revolutionized medicine, taking it from the treatment of symptoms and discomfort to the eradication of the root cause of illness.

A strange and colorful story, The Demon Under the Microscope illuminates the vivid characters, corporate strategy, individual idealism, careful planning, lucky breaks, cynicism, heroism, greed, hard work, and the central (though mistaken) idea that brought sulfa to the world. This is a fascinating scientific tale with all the excitement and intrigue of a great suspense novel.

For thousands of years, humans had sought medicines with which they could defeat contagion, and they had slowly, painstakingly, won a few battles: some vaccines to ward off disease, a handful of antitoxins. A drug or two was available that could stop parasitic diseases once they hit, tropical maladies like malaria and sleeping sickness. But the great killers of Europe, North America, and most of Asia—pneumonia, plague, tuberculosis, diphtheria, cholera, meningitis—were caused not by parasites but by bacteria, much smaller, far different microorganisms. By 1931, nothing on earth could stop a bacterial infection once it started. . . .

But all that was about to change. . . . —from The Demon Under the Microscope

What will you learn from this book

  1. Discovery of Sulfa Drugs: The book details the discovery of sulfa drugs, particularly the first synthetic antibacterial drug, Prontosil, by German chemist Gerhard Domagk in the 1930s.

  2. Impact on Medicine: Sulfa drugs revolutionized medicine by providing an effective treatment for bacterial infections, including previously deadly diseases such as pneumonia, septicemia, and streptococcal infections.

  3. World War II: Sulfa drugs played a crucial role during World War II, saving the lives of countless soldiers by preventing and treating infections on the battlefield and in military hospitals.

  4. Development of Antibiotics: The success of sulfa drugs paved the way for the development of other antibiotics, including penicillin, which further transformed the treatment of bacterial infections.

  5. Medical Ethics: The book explores the ethical dilemmas surrounding the development and use of sulfa drugs, including issues related to animal testing, patient consent, and the prioritization of military over civilian needs.

  6. Drug Resistance: The widespread use of sulfa drugs led to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria, highlighting the ongoing challenge of antimicrobial resistance in modern medicine.

  7. Commercialization and Profit: The commercialization of sulfa drugs by pharmaceutical companies, particularly Bayer, is examined, along with the ethical and economic considerations involved in the production and distribution of lifesaving medications.

  8. Public Health Impact: Sulfa drugs had a profound impact on public health, reducing the mortality rate from infectious diseases and contributing to the overall improvement of health outcomes in the 20th century.

  9. Scientific Innovation: The story of sulfa drugs illustrates the power of scientific innovation and collaboration in addressing pressing medical challenges and improving human health.

  10. Historical Context: The book provides valuable historical context for understanding the development of modern medicine, highlighting the interconnectedness of scientific discovery, technological advancement, and social and political factors.

Language English
ISBN-10 1400082137
ISBN-13 9781400082131
No of pages 352
Font Size Medium
Book Publisher Harmony Books
Published Date 19 Sep 2006

About Author

Author : Thomas Hager

2 Books

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