Penicillin was a revolutionary drug that broke new ground in medicine in the early 20th century. Australian pathologist Howard Florey, who was born in 1889 in Adelaide, was a crucial player in its development and testing. Along with Alexander Fleming and Ernst Chain, Florey was awarded the 1945 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of penicillin and its curative effect in various infectious diseases.

Florey's pioneering work with antibacterial agents is estimated to have saved over 80 million lives. He remains highly esteemed by the Australian scientific and medical community and is considered one of its greatest figures. Former Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies once said, with respect to the world's wellbeing, 'Florey was the most important man ever born in Australia'.

This clip is an excerpt from Health is Their Business, a Film Australia Collection title that highlights the work of the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories in producing drugs and vaccines for Australia. The film features the production of vaccines from live viruses, the manufacturing of penicillin, and the extraction of venom from spiders to produce antivenom.