That Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin by chance is a myth. Before Fleming, there were a series of observations that influenced his research, and allowed him to come to the correct conclusion when a chance contamination in his bacterial culture was observed. This same opportunity came to others as well, but their only response to the contamination was that it had ruined their experiment and they had discarded the cultures and thought nothing more of it.
Discoveries in science are rarely made by chance. Often, it involves knowledge that has been gained over a long period of time so that all discoveries, today, have come about because we have "stood on the shoulders of giants that have come before us." Another words, discoveries are based on previous discoveries from the past. In the case of of penicillin, it was based upon historical records that had originated as early as 1500 B.C. There was already records describing the use of molds and fermented materials in the treatment of diseases. Because such treatments were carried out without an understanding on the nature of the cure or an understanding of cellular and biochemical processes of the human body, there was a likelihood of the patient dying from the treatment as well as being cured. It would not be until the late nineteenth century when Pasteur put forth the concept of the Germ Theory of Disease, i.e., diseases were caused by microorganisms. Not until then was there any concerted effort made that would destroy the microorganisms that were responsible for the actual causes of diseases. This led to the search for "The Magic Bullet". Another words a search was under way to find something that could kill the disease causing organisms without harming the person that it was infecting. One of the most common problem that occurred, and still occurs today, was the contamination of bacterial cultures by other microorganisms, especially fungi. These contaminations led to a number of observations in the late 1800s:作者: gigi 时间: 2002-11-9 02:53
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The discovery of penicillin has often been described as a miracle drug, and that is exactly what it is. Prior to the discovery of penicillin, death could occur in what would seem, today, to be very trivial injuries and diseases. It could occur from minor wounds that became infected or from diseases such as Strep Throat, and venereal diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea were a much more serious issue.作者: gigi 时间: 2002-11-9 03:02
After five centuries, Columbus remains a mysterious and controversial figure who has been variously described as one of the greatest mariners in history, a visionary genius, a mystic, a national hero, a failed administrator, a naive entrepreneur, and a ruthless and greedy imperialist.
Columbus's enterprise to find a westward route to Asia grew out of the practical experience of a long and varied maritime career, as well as out of his considerable reading in geographical and theological literature. He settled for a time in Portugal, where he tried unsuccessfully to enlist support for his project, before moving to Spain. After many difficulties, through a combination of good luck and persuasiveness, he gained the support of the Catholic monarchs, Isabel and Fernando.
The widely published report of his voyage of 1492 made Columbus famous throughout Europe and secured for him the title of Admiral of the Ocean Sea and further royal patronage. Columbus, who never abandoned the belief that he had reached Asia, led three more expeditions to the Caribbean. But intrigue and his own administrative failings brought disappointment and political obscurity to his final years.
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