|
Mold
Did you know that penicillin is really a
kind of mold? It is a mold that is an antibiotic, or bacteria
killer which destroys the bacteria that causes illnesses
like pneumonia. Penicillin was discovered by Alexander
Fleming in a laboratory in 1928. It really happened quite by
accident.
Fleming had served in the Royal Army
Medical Corps in World War I. As a doctor he fought to treat
the terribly infected wounds of soldiers with antiseptics
(medicines that stop infection). However while the
antiseptics killed bacteria, they also destroyed white blood
cells. White blood cells are needed to fight off
disease.
After the war, while working in a
laboratory Fleming discovered mold growing on a shallow specimen
dish he had been working with. The mold was stopping the
growth of bacteria!
In 1939, two doctors from Britain were
able to use pure penicillin to treat laboratory mice. By the
year 1943 American and English factories were producing
penicillin. Diseases like scarlet fever, rheumatic fever,
and pneumonia were now being cured and even prevented thanks to
Alexander Fleming.
|
