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. 2025 May 27:usaf234.
doi: 10.1093/milmed/usaf234. Online ahead of print.

From Gonorrhea to Gangrene: The Real Story Behind Penicillin Allocation During World War II

Sheena M Eagan  1 , Sanders Marble  2
Affiliations

From Gonorrhea to Gangrene: The Real Story Behind Penicillin Allocation During World War II

Sheena M Eagan et al. Mil Med. .

Abstract

This article challenges the widely cited narrative of reverse triage in World War II penicillin allocation. Drawing on archival sources, it reveals that treatment decisions reflected logistical realities and evolving evidence-not utilitarian ethics. The true story underscores patient-centered priorities and the complexities of wartime medical innovation during the therapeutic revolution.

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