Cure of Diabetes
Like many great discoveries, the role of pancreas in diabetes and its cure through insulin was a chance discovery. In 1889, two professors at University of Strasburg, Professors von Mering and Minkowski, were engaged in a study of the function of the pancreas in digestion. As a part of their experiment on dogs, they removed that organ from a dog by operation. One of the laboratory assistants noticed that a swarm of flies were attracted by the urine of the operated dog. He bought this to the attention of Professor Minkowski. Minkowski analysed the urine and found that there was sugar in it. It was this finding that led to our understanding of diabetes and its subsequent control by insulin.
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