Miracle cure : the creation of antibiotics and the birth of modern medicine / William Rosen.
As late as the 1930s, virtually no drug intended for sickness did any good; doctors could set bones, deliver babies, and offer palliative care. That all changed in less than a generation with the discovery and development of a new category of medicine known as antibiotics. By 1955, the age-old evolutionary relationship between humans and microbes had been transformed, trivializing once-deadly infections. William Rosen captures this revolution with all its false starts, lucky surprises, and eccentric characters. He explains why, given the complex nature of bacteria—and their ability to rapidly evolve into new forms—the only way to locate and test potential antibiotic strains is by large-scale, systematic, trial-and-error experimentation. Organizing that research needs large, well-funded organizations and businesses, and so our entire scientific-industrial complex, built around the pharmaceutical company, was born.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780525428107
- ISBN: 0525428100
- Physical Description: 358 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
- Publisher: New York, New York : Viking, [2017]
Content descriptions
- Bibliography, etc. Note:
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 327-342) and index.
- Formatted Contents Note:
- Prologue: five and a half grams -- All the worse for the fishes -- Patience, skill, luck, and money -- Play with microbes -- The people's department -- To see the problem clearly -- Man of the soil -- Satans into seraphs -- The little stranger -- Disturbing proportions -- Epilogue : the adaptability of the chemist.
Search for related items by subject
- Subject:
- Antibacterial agents > History.
Medicine > History.
Antibiotics > History.
Available copies
- 11 of 11 copies available at NC Cardinal.
- 1 of 1 copy available at Madison County Public Library. (Show)
Holds
- 0 current holds with 11 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Main Library | 615.7 ROS (Text) | 30229101095312 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Clemmons Branch | 615.792 R (Text) | 0112521394825 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Cleveland County Main Library | 615.792 ROS (Text) | 22281500133287 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Jacksonville Main Library | 615.7922 ROS (Text) | 36015000704110 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Pack Memorial Library | 615.7922 ROS (Text) | 0020511467142 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Richlands Branch Library | 615.7922 ROS (Text) | 36015001299748 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Sneads Ferry Branch Library | 615.7922 ROS (Text) | 36015001208632 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| South Buncombe/Skyland Library | 615.7922 ROS (Text) | 0020511455444 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Southside Branch | 615.792 R (Text) | 0112521394834 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Statesville Main Library | 615.7922 ROS (Text) | 33114017941501 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
