Despite all the wonderful advancements in medical scientific discipline , humanity does forget about a clever technique from sentence to time . pillowcase in point : we used to recycle non - refined penicillin from patient ’s urine , and now we do n’t anymore .
The write up , as of late fictionalise by Discover Magazine , is a Greco-Roman font of wartime frugalness . After the ‘ magic smoke ’ effects of penicillin became well - known in the US in 1942 , during WWII , need for the drug became far-flung . However , owe to the nettlesome need to build bombs and planes and the like , not enough was being construct to give every patient the full course of treatment .
But , as doctors soon discovered , between 40 and 99 percentage of penicillin come in into patients is n’t serve , and comes out in their urine . you may see where this is travel : the resource - strapped doctors take in to harvesting unused penicillin from patients ’ weewee and re - throw in it .
Of naturally , as war ended and we got undecomposed at making ( and injecting ) penicillin , MD simply cook up enough , and break off with the whole Bear Grylls feeling . But asSmithsonianpoints out , taking up the practice again might not only be more efficient , but more well-disposed to the ecosystem , as fewer chemicals terminate up in rivers . For the time being , though , toast your own water whilst on antibiotics is still not advised . [ Discover , Smithsonian ]
figure of speech citation : Shutterstock / Tinydevil
DrugsScienceUrine
Daily Newsletter
Get the secure tech , scientific discipline , and culture intelligence in your inbox day by day .
News from the future , delivered to your nowadays .
Please take your want newssheet and submit your email to upgrade your inbox .