By 1900, doctors could identify germs and prevent some diseases with vaccines. But what about CURING people already infected? Enter Paul Ehrlich, working in Robert Koch's laboratory. He dreamed of a "magic bullet" — a chemical that would kill germs in the body without killing the patient. In 1909, after testing 606 different compounds, his team found one that killed the syphilis bacterium. They called it Salvarsan (Compound 606). It was the first drug to target a specific disease — the dawn of chemical medicine.
This introduction covers Setting the Scene within Magic Bullets for GCSE History. Revise Magic Bullets in Medicine Through Time for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 1 of 13 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Magic Bullets
What was the name of the drug Paul Ehrlich developed in 1909 to treat syphilis?
In which year did Gerhard Domagk discover that Prontosil could kill streptococcal bacteria?
Quick recall flashcards
What was Salvarsan?
Compound 606 — Ehrlich's 1909 cure for syphilis, the first magic bullet
What was a "magic bullet"?
A chemical that kills specific bacteria without harming healthy cells