Quips and Quotations (All's Pharmacologically Fair in Love and War Edition)
I certainly didn't plan to revolutionize all medicine by discovering the world's first antibiotic, or bacteria killer. But I suppose that was exactly what I did.
If penicillin can cure gonoreah, gonorhea, the clap in four hours, how come we can't have sex for several days afterwards? I suppose someone would have invented penicillin sooner or later but never the less, well done Mr Fleming. You rather changed the world for those who could avail themselves of your penicillin.
Andrew, I looked and I looked and I looked and I can't find any online confirmation that gonorrhea can be cured in as little as four hours. Usually, it takes about a week--that's when the symptoms clear up--and then you're told to wait a few days just to be on the safe side. So how to explain the photograph? I've found it on several history-of-penicillin or history-of-gonorrhea web sites with no explanation other than that it was taken in 1944 or 1945. So, Andrew, the best I can do is just GUESS. What we're looking at is a bit of hyperbole on the part of whoever was administrating the treatment. Truth-in-advertising laws existed back then, but they probably weren't as rigorously enforced as they were later on (Ralph Nader not even yet a teenager.) And it's only a partial falsehood as penicillin DID cure the clap, just not that fast. Another possibility: the doctor's visit lasted about four hours (they had waiting rooms back then, too.)
Here in the United States and elsewhere, on servicemen had access to penicillin, be it because of battle wounds or visits to ladies of the evening during leave. As an Australian, Andrew, it should fill you with pride to know that your country was the very first to administer the drug to civilians in 1946.
Debra, since penicillin (and other antibiotics) went into mass-production in the late 1940s, the average life expectancy has increased by 23 years. That IS godlike (though why the Almighty waited until to the 20th century is beyond me. Maybe the petri dish needed to be invented first.)
Hello Kirk, I can't read the text in the top photo--was that soldier wounded in battle, or did he have gonorrhea? Seriously, penicillin was certainly one of the world's greatest discoveries. The only question is are we managing and husbanding this miracle correctly, in view of what we now know about bred-in resistance of microbes to penicillin and other cures? --Jim
Probably not, Jim. Like everything else, bacteria evolves, hence the antibody-resistance strains. Maybe someone should have thought of that before claiming the clap can be cured in four hours.
In order to keep the hucksters, humbugs, scoundrels, psychos, morons, and last but not least, artificial intelligentsia at bay, I have decided to turn on comment moderation. On the plus side, I've gotten rid of the word verification.
If penicillin can cure gonoreah, gonorhea, the clap in four hours, how come we can't have sex for several days afterwards? I suppose someone would have invented penicillin sooner or later but never the less, well done Mr Fleming. You rather changed the world for those who could avail themselves of your penicillin.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I looked and I looked and I looked and I can't find any online confirmation that gonorrhea can be cured in as little as four hours. Usually, it takes about a week--that's when the symptoms clear up--and then you're told to wait a few days just to be on the safe side. So how to explain the photograph? I've found it on several history-of-penicillin or history-of-gonorrhea web sites with no explanation other than that it was taken in 1944 or 1945. So, Andrew, the best I can do is just GUESS. What we're looking at is a bit of hyperbole on the part of whoever was administrating the treatment. Truth-in-advertising laws existed back then, but they probably weren't as rigorously enforced as they were later on (Ralph Nader not even yet a teenager.) And it's only a partial falsehood as penicillin DID cure the clap, just not that fast. Another possibility: the doctor's visit lasted about four hours (they had waiting rooms back then, too.)
DeleteHere in the United States and elsewhere, on servicemen had access to penicillin, be it because of battle wounds or visits to ladies of the evening during leave. As an Australian, Andrew, it should fill you with pride to know that your country was the very first to administer the drug to civilians in 1946.
That should be "ONLY servicemen had access to penicillin."
DeleteAmazing
ReplyDeleteMitchell, you might want to read my response to Andrew before becoming too amazed.
DeleteOn the other hand, Mitchell, if you're not amazed enough, read my response to Debra.
DeleteI was thinking more along the lines of Debra in my amazement. I didn't believe the 4 hours.
DeleteMitchell, maybe the symptoms become less severe after four hours. Just a thought.
DeleteIs there an internist out there who'd like to contribute a comment?
What a godsend that discovery was!
ReplyDeleteDebra, since penicillin (and other antibiotics) went into mass-production in the late 1940s, the average life expectancy has increased by 23 years. That IS godlike (though why the Almighty waited until to the 20th century is beyond me. Maybe the petri dish needed to be invented first.)
DeleteHello Kirk, I can't read the text in the top photo--was that soldier wounded in battle, or did he have gonorrhea? Seriously, penicillin was certainly one of the world's greatest discoveries. The only question is are we managing and husbanding this miracle correctly, in view of what we now know about bred-in resistance of microbes to penicillin and other cures? --Jim
ReplyDeleteProbably not, Jim. Like everything else, bacteria evolves, hence the antibody-resistance strains. Maybe someone should have thought of that before claiming the clap can be cured in four hours.
DeleteAnd I'm allergic to penicillin! Damn!
ReplyDeleteStay away from mold, Mike.
Delete