It has since revolutionised medical science, saving millions of lives. Three thousand years before penicillin, moulds and fermented materials had been used to cure various skin infections ...

The penicillin loved it, and yielded almost 500 times as much as it had before. More vigorous and productive strains of the mold were sought, and one of the best came from a rotting canteloupe ...

Before penicillin can be called a cure for syphilis, says Dr. Mahoney. it must succeed in a huge number of cases over a long period. Such a workout must wait until more penicillin is available ...