Professor Hamilton's Diary: Feb. 16, 1935

Ear infection treatment in the days prior to antibiotics was gruesome

I don’t know about you, but I can remember times when my son was little when we practically bought that icky pink amoxicillin in 55-gallon drums. He was plagued with ear infections from infancy until he was about four. Amoxicillin, a penicilin antibiotic, would clear things up and end his pain and fever. Until the next ear infection came along.

Paid subscribers can read about how the Hamiltons’ toddler was treated for an ear infection and how the widespread use of penicillin revolutionized treatment. The photo shows a sample of penicillin mold, given to a colleague by the accident discoverer, Alexander Fleming. The photo is from the collection of the Science Museum in London.