The Discovery of Insulin

by Michael Bliss

Paperback, 1984

Status

Available

Call number

615.365 Bli

Call number

615.365 Bli

Barcode

6480

Collection

Publication

University Of Chicago Press (1984), Edition: Reprint, 304 pages

Description

"The discovery of insulin at the University of Toronto in 1921-22 was one of the most dramatic events in the history of the treatment of disease. Insulin was a wonder drug with the ability to bring diabetes patients back from the very brink of death. It was no surprise that in 1923 the Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to its discoverers, the Canadian research team of Frederick Banting, Charles Best, James Collip, and John Macleod. In this engaging and award-winning account, historian Michael Bliss draws on archival records and personal adventures to recount the fascinating story behind the discovery of insulin - a story as much filled with fiery confrontation and intense competition as medical dedication and scientific genius. With a new preface by Michael Bliss and a foreword by Alison Li, the special centenary edition of The Discovery of Insulin honours the one hundredth anniversary of insulin's discovery and its continued significance a century later."--… (more)

Original publication date

1982

User reviews

LibraryThing member watson_1
Great medical story. Amazing how this wonder drug was discovered and then scaled into production to immediately help people.
LibraryThing member bxhaughton
As a type 1 diabetic of 44 years' duration, I found this story of the drug that saved my life at the age of 19 fascinating. Insulin is a curious "cure", in that it is no cure at all, and in that it has a distinct dark side that those who are not insulin-dependent can never understand. I have been
Show More
in the emergency room too many times to even want to count. I know of no other therapeutic drug that requires its recipients to expose themselves to such risks (i.e. hypglycemia). Yet it's all we've got, and it keeps us alive. So I guess all I can say is: Bravo!
Show Less

Rating

(9 ratings; 4.1)

Pages

304
Page: 0.5189 seconds