Modern bacteriology was born on the battlefields of WWI, where bacteria-rich trenches added to the toll of millions of soldiers killed. This is a fascinating scientific tale with all the excitement and intrigue of a great suspense novel. 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.Ī 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. 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. 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. It conquered diseases, changed laws, and single-handedly launched the era of antibiotics. This is not the kind of book that some would have chosen to read, but they were pleasantly surprised with how interesting it was.In The Demon Under the Microscope, Thomas Hager chronicles the dramatic history of sulfa, the first antibiotic and the drug that shaped modern medicine. Doubtless Bay 001 The book was well received by the group.
Christchurch 099 Most members enjoyed the book and found the subject very interesting. Greytown 001 Read by most, and we learnt a lot. Coromandel 002 Highly recommended by the group, who found it an engrossing read. The message was clear in the last paragraph: "The problem now is not staying alive, but keeping the earth alive as we overrun it." Much discussion. All found it very absorbing and accessible, and once again we are informed about something we should know. Wellington 058 Unanimous appreciation of this book. We were not so keen on the small grey font, but it was a good read. We all enjoyed delving into the science of medical research, the scientists and the companies involved in it. Both entertaining and informative, this story while presenting the historical events that revolutionised the management of infection also considers the contemporary challenge of antibiotic resistance. Chronicling the history and development of sulfa (the miracle drug in question) and the attendant fledgling pharmaceutical industry, this book presents a riveting story of endeavour and the physicians and scientists involved in its discovery. But this has not always been the case not until the 1930s did the first antibiotic make its way onto the world stage, ushering in the era of modern medicine.
Antibiotics, should we need them, are just a prescription away.
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