The Demon Under The Microscope

By: Thomas Hager

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

The Nazis discovered it. The Allies won the war with it. It conquered diseases, changed laws, and single-handedly launched the era of antibiotics. This incredible discovery was sulfa, the first antibiotic medication. In The Demon Under the Microscope, Thomas Hager chronicles the dramatic history of the drug that shaped modern medicine.

Sulfa saved millions of lives, among them, Winston Churchill's and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jr.'s, but its real effects have been even more far reaching. Sulfa changed the way new drugs were developed, approved, and sold. It transformed the way doctors treated patients. And it ushered in the era of modern medicine. The very concept that chemicals created in a lab could cure disease revolutionized medicine, taking it from the treatment of symptoms and discomfort to the eradication of the root cause of illness.

A strange and vibrant story, The Demon Under the Microscope illuminates the colorful characters, corporate strategy, individual idealism, careful planning, lucky breaks, cynicism, heroism, greed, hard work, and central (though mistaken) idea that brought sulfa to the world. This is a fascinating scientific tale with all the excitement and intrigue of a great suspense novel.

©2006 Thomas Hager (P)2006 Tantor Media, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Highly entertaining." (Publishers Weekly)

Fascinating Listen

Okay, I know what you are thinking. A history on the discovery of sulfa drugs. Dry and boring. NO! Not dry, not boring and actually interesting. There are quirks and turns in the path of this discovery that are just fascinating. The factors playing into the discovery are intriguing.. The coincidences are amazing. I really enjoyed listening to this. I learned a lot. Like sulfa was discovered before penicillin. And a whole lot more. So try it, you just might like it.

A little bit history, a little bit science

An interesting story of the history of modern antibiotic development, one illustration shows how utterly the world was changed in a decade. In 1924, Calvin Coolidge, Jr. died when infection set into a blister on a toe from playing tennis without socks. FDR, Jr. did not die of a similar strep infection in 1936. Both were sons of presidents, still in the White House. Though treated with the very best of care available, Coolidge died in a mere 8 days at Walter Reed. The difference was sulfa. FDR, Jr. was among the earliest patients in the US to be treated with a modern antibiotic, and his rapid and full recovery from a strep infection ushered in the antibiotic age in this country. Europe had been enjoying the benefits of sulfanilamide for a few years, but the saving of a President's son brought the insistence for its use to the US.

Sulfa is the focus of this book, and soon after its obvious success, penicillin was discovered. The arrival of these two life-saving agents meant that unlike the First World War, injured soldiers were less likely to die of post-operative infections during the Second World War.

The pace of the book was tedious at points, and detail excessive at times. Nevertheless, I found this an interesting piece of medical history. Non-medical persons need not be concerned that it will be too technical. Recommended.

If you like history and science, you want to read this book

Well written, and well read. A fascinating story of the discovery and history of the first miracle drug.

Interesting

Interesting, but very technical. I had to go back several times if I was working and not paying attention while the book was on.

I really enjoyed this one

This is a fascinating look into the history of medicine. The narration is excellent.

A very worthwhile read.

Prior to the 20th century pathological micro-organisms were the most frequent cause of death in humans and the source of incalculable suffering and sorrow worldwide. People in those days were resigned to the sudden disappearance of friends, associates, and relatives, who seemed well one day and were gone the next, struck down by invisible killers against which medical science offered no defense. Pasteur’s vaccines were a notable exception, but even they could do little against infections, once these had overcome the body’s natural resistance. Around the turn of the century all this began to change with the development of the first effective antimicrobial medications. The advent of these breakthrough drugs signaled the beginning of a new era in medicine, when antibiotics would save countless millions of lives and transform our civilization.
The Demon Under the Microscope tells the story of a German physician and scientist named Gerhard Domagk and his lifelong struggle to develop a safe and effective chemical cure for microbial infections. Domagk’s quest began in the trenches of World War I, where he served as a medic. Horrified by the agony and death surrounding him, he noticed that soldiers whose injuries were not in themselves fatal, often died anyway, when their wounds became contaminated by bacteria. He set out after the war to find an injectable agent that would kill the bacteria without harming the patient. The path to success was long and convoluted, leading Domagk into the corporate jungle of I.G. Farbin, the German chemical giant, and involving him in intense competition with researchers in other countries, all equally intent on gaining credit for the discovery. It’s a fascinating and inspiring story, well told by Thomas Hager, of a man driven by curiosity, compassion, and personal ambition to change the world. Stephen Hoye’s reading of the text is very good too. Even if you’re not especially interested in medicine or its history, the drama of Domagk’s quest and the intense human interest of the people he was determined to help make for compelling listening.

Great Medical Historical Piece!

The Demon Under the Microscope is a great novel by Thomas Hager that covers the journey of pre-modern medicine up to and including the first attempt at curing bacterial infections and diseases with the sulfanilimide drug derivatives. Mr. Hager presents the information in a very logical and engaging fashion and will leave you feeling satisfied after finishing the book. In addition, the narration by Stephen Hoye is top notch.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in medical history, or just wanting to listen to a great story narrated by a great reader.

Please let me know what you think. I am curious to see what others have thought about this book.

Enjoy!

Thanks,

NumenorKnight

Fascinating history of the development of the first chemotherapeutic agent

A very well done narrative of the development of sulfa drugs. It is well performed and include multiple very interesting characters with background histories involving World War I and World War II.

horror, humanity, and human progress!!

Fantastic advances in medical treatment were a product of brilliant minds, tirelss dedication, twisted politics, cultural shifts, and happy accidents. Who knew? Everything we take for granted was both mindbogglingly simple and a long labor.

Great book!

Any additional comments?

It just fascinates me, the work went into making one of the first anti-biotics. And we take those same drugs so much for granted in today's world. I have listened to this book twice now, and will listen to it again!