Medical Mavericks: The History Of Self-Experimentation--Discovering Vaccines
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Killer bugs like the plague, cholera, and typhoid were all brought under control by adventuring self-experimenters. Looks at medical trailblazers who took the ultimate risk and injected or ingested some of the most terrifying diseases known to humankind. Describes Louis Pasteur's flirtation with mortality, during which he asked his assistants to inject him with the rabies virus. Also explores the gambles taken by two early-20th-century American doctors who injected themselves and their families with polio in a bitter race for a vaccine. Modern researchers who have infected themselves with hookworm in a novel bid to control allergies are also featured. Accessibility options on the DVD are: (1) audio description, (2) English subtitles in a black box.
Media Details
Runtime: 50 minutes
- Topic: Health and Safety
- Subtopic: Diseases and Conditions, Health Care-History
- Grade/Interest Level: 9 - 12
- Standards:
- Release Year: 2006
- Producer/Distributor: Films Media Group
- Series: Medical Mavericks: The History of Self-Experimentation
Available Resources
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