Dr Alexander Fleming
Florey! Just brilliant work on purifying Penicillin.
Howard Florey
Well, thanks! I am indeed curious, Dr. Fleming. What sparked your interest of this topic?
Dr Fleming
Ah, Florey. If you give me your word, I will give you the truthful answer.
Florey
Oh, dear. You have my word, doctor. Shall we pour some whisky for the occasion?
Dr Fleming
Brilliant! Since some fine Dalmore features in this story, you see. Cheers, old mate.
Florey
Cheers, Dr. Fleming. To good health and better discoveries.
Dr Fleming
Well, as the story goes, I was on my way back from the highlands where, as one might expect, the water of life was frequently being enjoyed. And as I re-entered the lab, feeling the effects of paramada, I discovered that my Petri dish was left sitting next to an open window. It became contaminated with mould spores. I was, naturally, enraged.
Florey
Of course, you were. This could potentially compromise years of research!
Dr Fleming
It could have been. Just like that, gone like the wind! So I called the laboratory and demanded to know which assistants were in charge of the lab while I was away. They got a shelling from me and one would try to pass the buck to the other. I dismissed them in a huff and went back to my Petri dish, and what do I see?! My, oh, my, all the bacteria in proximity to the mould colonies were dying.
Florey
Dying?! Which means something about the accidental concoction was effectively killing off infectious bacteria which indeed is a brilliant cure to so many diseases! That is fascinating.
Dr Fleming
Well, exactly! As it turns out, if the imbeciles hadn’t left the window open, the samples would never have been exposed to said bacteria. I was intrigued, naturally. So I isolated the mould and identified it as a member of the Penicillium genus.
Florey
I can’t believe my ears. So it was an accident?!
Dr Fleming
It was completely fated!
Florey
Well, son of a gun! Maybe, skip that bit when we give our Nobel Prize speech.
Dr Fleming
Here’s what I’ve written so far… “When I woke up just after dawn on September 28, 1928, I certainly didn’t plan to revolutionize all medicine by discovering the world’s first antibiotic, or bacteria killer. But I suppose that was exactly what I did.”
Florey
What a great way to to start. Cheers to us, a pair of life-saving geniuses.
Dr Fleming
And to think the common folk think we scientists are humble.
Florey
Cheers to changing the future of medicine and saving millions, Dr.Fleming!
Dr Fleming
Cheers, Howey!
