Ernst Boris Chain

At times, it must have seemed as though scientists needed only identify the cause of a disease in order to cure it: In 1910, Paul Ehrlich discovered that an arsenic-based compound could wipe out syphilis; in the 1930s, sulfur-based medicines were proven to be effective against everything from pneumonia and puerperal sepsis to staph and strep; and in 1941, Howard Florey and Ernst Boris Chain showed that humans could use penicillin without fear of death.

The Panic Virus Seth Mnookin 2011

At times, it must have seemed as though scientists needed only identify the cause of a disease in order to cure it: In 1910, Paul Ehrlich discovered that an arsenic-based compound could wipe out syphilis; in the 1930s, sulfur-based medicines were proven to be effective against everything from pneumonia and puerperal sepsis to staph and strep; and in 1941, Howard Florey and Ernst Boris Chain showed that humans could use penicillin without fear of death.

The Panic Virus Seth Mnookin 2011

At times, it must have seemed as though scientists needed only identify the cause of a disease in order to cure it: In 1910, Paul Ehrlich discovered that an arsenic-based compound could wipe out syphilis; in the 1930s, sulfur-based medicines were proven to be effective against everything from pneumonia and puerperal sepsis to staph and strep; and in 1941, Howard Florey and Ernst Boris Chain showed that humans could use penicillin without fear of death.

The Panic Virus Seth Mnookin 2011