1918 Life Changes
The Fungus That Changed the World
Life before September 1928 proved to be a difficult time for many. The quality of life across the world was poor, and humans had a considerably shorter lifespan than today. Bacterial infections ranked as a leading cause of death. These infections spread easily, and diseases such as pneumonia, syphilis, gonorrhea, diphtheria, and scarlet fever as well as wounds and childbirth infections killed thousands every year. Surgical infections were also a major killer, and doctors had no protection from any of these infections. The discovery of the first antibiotic, penicillin, in 1928 changed the lives of people forever. Penicillin provided a cure for many deadly infections, and its discovery led to the discovery of many other antibiotics, such as streptomycin, which are used to treat everyday infections for countless ailments, saving and improving lives throughout the world. …show more content…
Many people in the late 1800’s- 1920s were dying from the common cold (Tames 12). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states,“Diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB), and diarrhea and enteritis, which (together with diphtheria) caused one third of all deaths in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s”. 1918 proved to be an especially devastating time with 20 million lives lost due to a wide spread of influenza that no known medication could cure. During this time vaccinations were the most helpful medication but even with their help, thousands still died from many diseases and infection
Life before September 1928 proved to be a difficult time for many. The quality of life across the world was poor, and humans had a considerably shorter lifespan than today. Bacterial infections ranked as a leading cause of death. These infections spread easily, and diseases such as pneumonia, syphilis, gonorrhea, diphtheria, and scarlet fever as well as wounds and childbirth infections killed thousands every year. Surgical infections were also a major killer, and doctors had no protection from any of these infections. The discovery of the first antibiotic, penicillin, in 1928 changed the lives of people forever. Penicillin provided a cure for many deadly infections, and its discovery led to the discovery of many other antibiotics, such as streptomycin, which are used to treat everyday infections for countless ailments, saving and improving lives throughout the world. …show more content…
Many people in the late 1800’s- 1920s were dying from the common cold (Tames 12). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states,“Diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB), and diarrhea and enteritis, which (together with diphtheria) caused one third of all deaths in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s”. 1918 proved to be an especially devastating time with 20 million lives lost due to a wide spread of influenza that no known medication could cure. During this time vaccinations were the most helpful medication but even with their help, thousands still died from many diseases and infection