HEATLEY (Norman George, 1911-2004, Member of the Oxford University team who developed Penicillin with Sir Alexander Fleming)

Autograph Letter Signed to Mrs Border saying that he is "sure this is the painting you mentioned in your letter recently though I see it is unsigned - at any rate it was in aunt Lil's bedroom as I told you. This other dainty little Christmas card had been pinned on the wall of the studio for years ...I am staying in the studio for two days ... and there is a great deal of clearing up to be done ...", 1 side 8vo., Wilmington, Polegate, Sussex headed paper, 12th June

Alexander Fleming had first discovered penicillin by accident in 1928, but at that time believed it had little application. When Florey and his team recognised the potential of the discovery for combating bacterial infection, they faced the problem of how to manufacture penicillin in sufficient quantities to be of use. Heatley, although the junior member of the team, possessed a natural gift for ingenuity and invention. It was he who suggested transferring the active ingredient of penicillin back into water by changing its acidity, this would purify the penicillin.

Item Date:  1943

Stock No:  39013      £175

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