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Penicillin Penicillin is the first naturally occurring antibiotic discovered and the first to be used therapeutically. This means that it is a substance that can kill or inhibit the growth of certain types of bacteria. It is generally associated with treating infections such as diphtheria, meningitis, pneumonia, and more common ones such as strep throat. It can be taken orally as a liquid or pill, or you can take it through a type of shot. It is a favorite drug for doctors to prescribe. Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by a Scottish Physician, Alexander Fleming. Before this time people new little about germs and bacteria, they would never wash out their wounds or use what we consider proper cleanliness. But, Fleming noticed the connection between a dirty wound and it later becoming infected. So, he started doing some work of his own. He placed bacteria and a substance from which it could grow off of into a petri dish and covered it. He accidentally left the lid off of one of the dishes and discovered some unusual fungus growing in it. Fleming observed that where this fungus grew the bacteria had ceased to exist. He then correctly reasoned that this fungus must kill the bacteria and he identified it as Penicillin. Althou