Actinomycetes, Vol. 4, Part 2, 27-39, 1993
The true story of the development of streptomycin
ALBERT SCHATZ
Code Number: AC93005
File Sizes:
Text: 44K
Graphics: Photo (Jpg) - 138K / Halftone 106K
Prologue
"For the historian of science, few documents are as
valuable as the description of a discovery by the scientists
involved in the action. Unfortunately few scientists take the
time to record for posterity the course of events which led to
the discoveries which were the fruit of their labor"
(Lechevalier, 1991).
"I have often thought how much more interesting science would
be if those who created it told how it really happened, rather
than reported it logically and impersonally, as they often do
in scientific papers" (Beadle, 1992).
"Over the years, the story of streptomycin's discovery has
been terribly garbled. I think ... it would be a great service
if ... Dr.Schatz told his own accurate and interesting account
of his finding. Streptomycin turned out to be a milestone in
the history of drugs to treat tuberculosis and other
infections. Dr. Schatz's role has been largely ignored. The
record about this discovery should be set straight"
(Doris Jones Ralston, a fellow graduate student when I did the
streptomycin research).
Copyright 1993 C.E.T.A.
