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:A new wonder-working chemical named sulfathiazole, the latest "relative" of the sulfanilimide group of "magic bullets," which promises to become the greatest weapon against a host of deadly bacterial infections for which no effective measures existed until now.<ref>Laurence, William L. (1940), "New 'Sulfa' Drug Widens Germ War," ''The New York Times,'' April 4, 1940, p. 19</ref>
:A new wonder-working chemical named sulfathiazole, the latest "relative" of the sulfanilimide group of "magic bullets," which promises to become the greatest weapon against a host of deadly bacterial infections for which no effective measures existed until now.<ref>Laurence, William L. (1940), "New 'Sulfa' Drug Widens Germ War," ''The New York Times,'' April 4, 1940, p. 19</ref>
After World War II, the sulfa drugs were followed by the first of the antibiotics, [[penicillin]] and [[streptomycin]]. The revolutionary impact of these drugs cannot be overstated; for the first time, serious bacterial diseases could be cured promptly and effectively. The phrases "wonder drug" and "miracle drug" were widely used. As early as 1952, however, the Times was reporting that "physicians said today that more bacteria were developing more resistance to 'wonder drugs.'"<ref>"Increased Resistance To 'Wonder Drugs' Seen", United Press, ''The New York Times,'' October 22, 1952, p. 22</ref>
After World War II, the sulfa drugs were followed by the first of the antibiotics, [[penicillin]] and [[streptomycin]]. The revolutionary impact of these drugs cannot be overstated; for the first time, serious bacterial diseases could be cured promptly and effectively. The phrases "wonder drug" and "miracle drug" were widely used. As early as 1952, however, the Times was reporting that "physicians said today that more bacteria were developing more resistance to 'wonder drugs.'"<ref>"Increased Resistance To 'Wonder Drugs' Seen", United Press, ''The New York Times,'' October 22, 1952, p. 22</ref>
Bacteriologists soon found that E. coli grown in media containing streptomycin not only produced strains capable of resisting streptomycin, they actually in some cases developed strains that thrived on it and ''required'' it for growth.
In the last half of the twentieth century, a situation developed which was often described as an "arms race" between doctors and bacteria.
==Notes and references==
==Notes and references==
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