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Analysis

When are randomised trials unnecessary? Picking signal from noise

BMJ 2007; 334 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39070.527986.68 (Published 15 February 2007) Cite this as: BMJ 2007;334:349

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75 years ago: 24. December 1932. Streptococci kill, antibiotics help to survive!

Dear Sir,

only 75 years ago a miracle occurred.

"On 24th December, 1932, it was found that in an experiment begun on
20th December, 1932, all the controls had died, whereas all the mice which
had been given Prontosil were alive and well.

This was the basis of the discovery which was destined to bring
undreamed-of advances in chemotherapy." (1)

Now we even forgot the furor epidemicus of these streptococcal
diseases.
Everybody talks against antibiotics.
It is a shame.

Merry Christmas

Yours Friedrich Flachsbart

1. N. Svartz: Presentation Speech.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1939.
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1939/press.html

Competing interests:
None declared

Competing interests: No competing interests

26 December 2007
Friedrich Flachsbart
General Medicine Praxis
37085 Göttingen-Geismar