Penicillin During World War 2

World War 2 majorly increased medical knowledge because of disease, mass injury, and rebuilding efforts. World war 2 Ran rampant with diseases, infections, and illness in not only soldiers, but civilians too. Gangrene was a massive problem during the war, But with the inventions of the time A way to prevent further sickness Quickly developed under the chaos of rifle fire. The use of sulfur to prevent illness wa discovered, along with things like prontosil, and penicillin to stop infections. For civilians The war sped the work to discover. In the Battlefield Hospitals Were built with not only supplies to help sustain life, But filled with knowledge in books. And with the newly acquired radio,Though Not Perfect, made Communication across miles

Treatment must begin immediately with penicillin (Counteracting Major Infections 918).Penicillin, the drug used to treat this infection was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1932 Though discovered before the war and in the aftermath of the great war penicillin only became mass produced during world war 2, especially the netherlands after the war. Researchers in the Netherlands produced penicillin using their own production methods and marketed it in 1946, which eventually increased the penicillin supply and decreased the price.(Robert Gaynes) This allowed for penicillin to be available to most people for commercial use along with prontosil ( a previously discovered antibiotic). Together, Prontosil, penicillin, and related antibacterials enabled physicians to control the major infectious diseases afflicting humanity, at least for many decades; however, an increasing problem today is the steady development by bacteria of resistance to antibiotics.(Ronald Bentley)The discovery of Sulfanilamide greatly affected the mortality rate during World War II. American soldiers were taught to immediately sprinkle sulfa powder on any open wound to prevent infection.(David Steinert)Every soldier was issued a first aid pouch that was designed to be attached to the soldier’s waist belt. The first aid pouch contained a package of sulfa powder and a bandage to dress the wound.One of the main components carried by a combat medic during World War II was sulfa powder and sulfa tablets. (David Steinert) Dramatic proof of the effectiveness of this new agent was provided during an outbreak of meningitis in the French Foreign Legion in Nigeria.While sulfanilamide was available, there was an 11% mortality rate. After the supply was exhausted, mortality climbed to 75%. Sulfanilamide and its derivatives, which soon followed, were said to have "dethroned the captain of the men of death," such was their