The Quest for Cortisone
by Thom Rooke
In 1948, when Mrs. G., hospitalized with debilitating rheumatoid arthritis, became the first person to receive a mysterious new compound"cortisone"her physicians were awestruck by her transformation from enervated to energized. After eighteen years of biochemical research, the most intensively hunted biological agent of all time had finally been isolated, identified, synthesized, and put to the test. And it worked. But the discovery of a long-sought magic bullet came at an unanticipated cost in the form of strange side effects. This fascinating history recounts the discovery of cortisone and pulls the curtain back on the peculiar cast of characters responsible for its advent, including two enigmatic scientists, Edward Kendall and Philip Hench, who went on to receive the Nobel Prize. The book also explores the key role the Mayo Clinic played in fostering cortisone s development, and looks at drugs that owe their heritage to the so-called King of Steroids. "
Paperback
English
Brand New
Author Biography
Thom Rooke is the Krehbiel Professor of Vascular Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Review Quote
Rooke has accomplished the almost impossible: he has produced a scholarly account of the discovery of cortisone that reads like a novel. It is packed with fascinating people, who are connected by their passion for science, medicine, and the race for more than one Nobel Prize. This book is a fascinating blend of authoritative medical history and exciting story telling. -Harvey Sparks, University Distinguished Professor of Physiology, Michigan State University
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