| The vast majority of discoveries and inventions | | | | on the victims were very similar to the spots |
| began as accidents. A military radar technician that | | | | that cow milkers got from a rash on certain |
| walked in front of an active radar dish noticed | | | | cows. The quick-thinking farmer also noticed that |
| that it melted the chocolate bar in his shirt pocket. | | | | the people who got the mild rash from cows |
| This was the basis of the microwave oven | | | | almost never got the deadly smallpox! The |
| concept. A glue chemist accidentally created a | | | | farmer deliberately infected his family with the |
| very weak glue, but noticed that it remained | | | | cow rash, saving them from death by smallpox. |
| sticky and could be reused many times. Those | | | | This was probably the first-known instance of a |
| popular yellow sticky notes were born. Modern | | | | vaccination. |
| medical miracles have also had such humble | | | | Penicillin has cured many people who would have |
| beginnings. At the rate that land is being cleared, | | | | otherwise died from common diseases. Aspirin |
| will we have a chance to find these hidden | | | | and its synthetic cousins continue to be used |
| miracles? | | | | worldwide as pain relievers. The disease of |
| One such example is the medicinal property of | | | | smallpox has been virtually eradicated around the |
| willow bark. Somehow, it was discovered that | | | | globe. Is there a vine in the rainforest, a succulent |
| chewing willow bark was an effective pain reliever. | | | | in the desert, or even a weed in your backyard |
| It worked very well, because the practice spread | | | | that can have similar medicinal effects? The |
| and was continued for hundreds or thousands of | | | | accounts noted above suggest that the answer |
| years. Today we know that willow bark contains | | | | might be yes. |
| the active ingredient found in common aspirin. | | | | There are many new diseases to be conquered, |
| More than a hundred years ago, a smart but very | | | | and a shrinking supply of potential natural |
| messy scientist was growing different types of | | | | remedies with which to fight them. These short |
| bacteria. He noticed that something was | | | | anecdotes show that natural remedies can be |
| contaminating his bacteria cultures and killing them. | | | | waiting to be discovered where they are least |
| He traced the offender to the kind of mold that | | | | expected. Let us hope that the promise of these |
| grows on old bread. This pencil-shaped mold is | | | | undiscovered future remedies is a bright one. |
| known as penicillin, and has saved countless lives | | | | If you are interested in ordinary but effective |
| around the world. | | | | home remedies like home remedies for lice, free |
| When smallpox was ravaging the English | | | | cold sore remedies, removing skin tags, home |
| countryside 300 years ago, a certain farmer and | | | | remedies for fleas, or acid reflux home remedies, |
| his family were terrified. He noticed that the spots | | | | find them for free using the resources that follow. |