An MP wants greater recognition of the achievements of the doctor whose Edinburgh-based team found an effective treatment for tuberculosis (TB).
Sir John Crofton, now 93, is credited with helping to save the lives of 10 million people worldwide, yet remains unknown outside medical circles.
He developed a treatment based on the simultaneous use of three antibiotics.
Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, John Barratt, placed a parliamentary motion calling for greater recognition.
TB or consumption was one of the UK's biggest killers.
Half of all those infected died, and those who survived were separated from their families for months while they recuperated.
Sir John, who was professor of respiratory diseases at the University of Edinburgh from 1952 to 1977, helped develop a treatment that led directly to a massive decline in cases.
He was knighted in 1977 and still campaigns for the eradication of TB in developing nations.
My oldest brother died of that disease way back in 1922 when very few ever lived who contracted it. Sir John Crofton sure deserves more recognition than he has gotten and I'm sure he's a saint by anybodies standards.
At least he was knighted; but I agree, he deserves much more.
Reviewed by Jerry Bolton (Reader)
Reviewed on March 23, 2006
I have to say amen to this thought. He should have received the Nobel Prize for medicine at the very least. Did he? I couln't find it if he did. Thanks for spreading the word on this man of miracles.
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Our human genome is full of viruses similar to HIV-1. These have played an important role in human evolution and still play an important role in human embryology and day-to-day chemistry. Just how important are they to our evolution past and future?
Birgit and Roger
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