Penicillin

Introduction

Penicillin (the wonder drug) is an antibiotic from a penicillium mold, which kills off bacteria. This antibiotic works by breaking down cell walls, which make it impossible for the bacteria to live. Human cells are not affected because they do not have cell walls.
This drug is very effective for killing bacteria in the body. Penicillin would kill diseases like pneumonia, syphilis, gonorrhea etc. Another thing Penicillin can do is to protect your body from infections. This is very important in case you get a cut with deadly bacteria in it.


History

For centuries people have been dying from deadly bacteria. Until penicillin was discovered there was no known form of antibiotic to cure infectious diseases. In 1838 18,000 English and Welsh people died from pneumonia (a treatable disease 100 years later), which is caused by infection by deadly bacteria. Many scientist were trying to find a pil...