Penicillin.- Chain (Sir Ernest Boris), H.W.Florey & others. Penicillin as a Chemotherapeutic Agent, contained in 'The Lancet' Vol.II No.VIII, pp.226-228, first edition, illustrations, many illustrated advertisements, stapled, reinforced with stitching, original printed wrappers, an excellent copy, preserved in modern cloth portfolio, [PMM 420b], 24 August 1940; with 2 others on penicillin, 4to & 8vo (3)

⁂ In 1929, while working at St. Mary's Hospital in London, Alexander Fleming discovered the antibacterial properties of penicillium mould. He published his findings, suggesting its potential as an antiseptic. However, this substance was unstable and it was not until 1940 that it was stabilised as a drug by Ernst Chain and Howard Florey. The results of their many animal experiments, published in this paper, showed that penicillin was probably the most effective chemotherapeutic drug known, and that it was relatively non-toxic. Shortly afterwards it began to be mass-produced in factories in the United States, and was responsible for saving countless lives during World War II, and since. All three men shared the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1945.