A French chemist, Charles Frederic Gerhardt, was the first to prepare acetylsalicylic acid (named aspirin in 1899) in 1853. In the course of his work on the synthesis and properties of various acid anhydrides, he mixed acetyl chloride with a sodium salt of salicylic acid (sodium salicylate). A vigorous reaction ensued, and the resulting melt soon solidified.

• E. coli is one of the fastest-growing bacteria and divides roughly every 20 minutes.
  Read more
• The oldest human remains showing signs of tuberculosis infection are 9,000 years old.
  Read more
• X-rays for medical purposes was pioneered by Major John Hall-Edwards in 1908.
  Read more