Kirby Gong

The History of Medicine

History EN ↓ 131 episodes

Explore the rich history of medicine, from the diseases that once plagued us, how the medicine we take for granted today came to be, and the curious characters and stories surrounding these topics. Updates every week, with breaks between seasons for additional research and planning. Our current topic: Pain. Episodes to resume in early October 2021! Past Season's topics: Season 1 - Antibiotics. Season 2 - Surgery/Anesthesia. Season 3 - Public Health. Season 4 - Mental Illness. Season 5 - Pain.

Author

Kirby Gong

Episodes

1.5 - Penicillin In The War 10.06.2019 21:51

This week, we finally bring penicillin to its full potential. A team of brilliant scientists at Oxford figure out how to mass-produce it, and Hodgkin figures out its structure. Penicillin saves millions, inspires a new future in medicine, and defines a number of great scientists' careers. Images: Heatley's purifier. Beta Lactam's Structure. Website: http://thehistoryofmedicine.buzz...

1.4 - Alec and His Mold 03.06.2019 18:52

We finally come to penicillin. Alec Fleming stumbles upon a fungus contaminating one of his samples, and kicks off a long series of events that will lead to the best known antibiotic. Website: http://thehistoryofmedicine.buzzsprout.com/ E-mail: thehistoryofmedicinepodcast@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHistoryOfMedicine/ Transcripts and Sources here!

1.3 - Sulfa Drugs 27.05.2019 11:24

This time, I tell the story of one Gerard Domagk. This brilliant scientist discovers one of the first antibiotics, which as a class of drugs come to be known as sulfa drugs. They're not perfect, but they're a huge step on our journey. Website: http://thehistoryofmedicine.buzzsprout.com/ E-mail: thehistoryofmedicinepodcast@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHistoryOfMedicine/...

1.2 - Magic Bullets 26.05.2019 15:41

This episode, we talk about the science that happens right before the famous antibiotics. Most notably, Paul Ehrlich discovers a cure for syphilis, the first drug to target a bacteria and actually cure it. Website: http://thehistoryofmedicine.buzzsprout.com/ E-mail: thehistoryofmedicinepodcast@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHistoryOfMedicine/ Transcripts and Sources here!

1.1 - The Story of Yersinia Pestis 25.05.2019 16:34

This week, we illustrate just how bad life can be before antibiotics. As such, here's the worst bacterial disease I could think of off the top of my head: the bubonic plague. Sorry, but this episode's going to be a bit of a downer. Website: http://thehistoryofmedicine.buzzsprout.com/ E-mail: thehistoryofmedicinepodcast@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHistoryOfMedicine/ Tr...

0 - Introduction 24.05.2019 2:31

A quick intro to this podcast. TLDR: My name is Kirby Gong. This will update about weekly, with breaks between topics and holidays. Seasons/episodes are standalone, but I recommend listening to the episodes within a season in order. The first topic is Antibiotics, from before we had them, through their discovery, into the future. Thanks for listening! Website: http://thehistoryofmedicine.buzzsprou...