Medicine Through Time

By Period:

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Greece

Ancient Rome

Medieval Medicine

The Black Death

Islamic Medicine

Chinese Medicine

Renaissance Medicine

Fight against Infectious Disease

Public Health in the Industrial Revolution

Development of Nursing

The Wefare State

The NHS

DNA

By Theme / Factor:

Surgery

War

Science and Technology

Chance

Religion

Public Health

Women in Medicine

Continuity and Change

Chronology

Penicillin - The significance of the Breakthrough

The discovery, development and subsequent use of penicillin can be considered to be one of the most important breakthroughs in medical history.

Penicillin prevents a large number of germs from growing. As it is an organic substance it can be used on, or in, the human body. This meant that for the first time something was available that could, potentially, prevent the decay of the body or infection from germs whilst operating.

The immediate impact of the discovery is clear. The drug was developed quickly in the War years by the American government. By developing the drug so readily and so quickly the US Governemtn prevented many soliers from having war wounds becoming infected: the drug therefore saved a lot of lives and, it could be argued, played a role in helping to win the war for the Allies.

The fight against infectious disease: pages within this unit

What is an Infectious Disease? A Glossary of Infectious Diseases, Edward Jenner, Louis Pasteur, Robert Koch, Vaccination, The Development of Drugs, Paul Ehrlich, Gerhard Domagk, Alexander Fleming, Howard Florey and Ernst Chain, The importance of Penicillin, Factors affecting the development of drugs and treatments.

Activities within the Unit

Recomended textbooks and revision guides