Penicillin and World War ii
This story has been added to the People's War website by Helen Jubb on behalf
of Mrs Warham, with her permission.
One of the outstanding memories of my time as a student nurse in Leeds
General Infirmary during the war was the introduction of antibiotics in
1942.
In those days once a patient succumbed to a bacterial infection we had only
the Sulphoromide drugs. These did not directly kill bacteria but could interfere
with their ability to multiply. With some infections we were helpless and many
wounds could get infected. Then we heard of this new drug called penicillin.
The first time I saw it used was very dramatic. The patient was a young man
with blood poisoning. He had a swollen and infected leg. No treatment so far had
had any affect and death was inevitable.
It was decided to try this new drug and there was quite a ceremony- doctors
and nurses all in masks and white coats. This wonder drug was a yellowish liquid
in a bottle brought in a box and placed on a stand. It was administered by a
drip by needle into the muscular infection.
This was over a long period, then dripped directly into the muscle and was
quite painful. However, within an hour there were dramatic signs of improvement,
the inflammation subsided and his temperature reduced.
It seemed like a miracle- I suppose it was! Because of the legacy, penicillin
became used generally very quickly and saved many lives.
Now its use has become taken for granted as a cure and people have become
careless about prevention of infections and its use seems to have been
proliferate when one remembers how precious it used to be.
SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/84/a4517084.shtml
of Mrs Warham, with her permission.
One of the outstanding memories of my time as a student nurse in Leeds
General Infirmary during the war was the introduction of antibiotics in
1942.
In those days once a patient succumbed to a bacterial infection we had only
the Sulphoromide drugs. These did not directly kill bacteria but could interfere
with their ability to multiply. With some infections we were helpless and many
wounds could get infected. Then we heard of this new drug called penicillin.
The first time I saw it used was very dramatic. The patient was a young man
with blood poisoning. He had a swollen and infected leg. No treatment so far had
had any affect and death was inevitable.
It was decided to try this new drug and there was quite a ceremony- doctors
and nurses all in masks and white coats. This wonder drug was a yellowish liquid
in a bottle brought in a box and placed on a stand. It was administered by a
drip by needle into the muscular infection.
This was over a long period, then dripped directly into the muscle and was
quite painful. However, within an hour there were dramatic signs of improvement,
the inflammation subsided and his temperature reduced.
It seemed like a miracle- I suppose it was! Because of the legacy, penicillin
became used generally very quickly and saved many lives.
Now its use has become taken for granted as a cure and people have become
careless about prevention of infections and its use seems to have been
proliferate when one remembers how precious it used to be.
SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/84/a4517084.shtml
Number of Lives Saved
Discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928, it wasn't until 1939 that Howard Florey
and a team of researchers showed the potential of penicillin; and it was during
the war that the antibiotic gained its popularity. In 1943 the US War Production
Board came up with a plan for the mass distribution of penicillin to Allied
troops fighting in Europe. By 1944, the US had produced 2.3 million doses and
the medicine is credited with saving an estimated 12 to 15 per cent of
casualties.
and a team of researchers showed the potential of penicillin; and it was during
the war that the antibiotic gained its popularity. In 1943 the US War Production
Board came up with a plan for the mass distribution of penicillin to Allied
troops fighting in Europe. By 1944, the US had produced 2.3 million doses and
the medicine is credited with saving an estimated 12 to 15 per cent of
casualties.