Banting and best

Answer 1

Banting was an out-of-work doctor/surgeon and Best a medical student in Toronto. The problem with isolating insulin (which controls the blood sugar level) was that the pancreas contained enzymes that destroyed the insulin if it was cut out. Banting had the idea of ligaturing the pancreas in situ so that it withered away leaving the insulin largely unaffected. He employed Best (a doctor's son) to help with the surgery and look after the dogs on which it was done with the permission of the University Professor in charge of the department. I think he was called McLeod (anyway he was a Scot). The experiments were carried out during the summer vacation under hot inclement conditions in a garret room, but they worked. The Nobel prize was given to Banting and McLeod (just because he was head of department and although he was not involved in the research in any way) but not to Best who did all the nasty work. It was said that, as a mere student, he was too young to receive an award. However, he did ultimately become head of department. I was in Toronto fairly soon after his death and was shown his office by his secretary who said that he was a really nice man. So he did win after all.

I should mention that there had been numerous attempts to isolate insulin by the more traditional biochemical methods of isolation and extraction of the pancreas but all had failed. So it was a signal achievement as well as one that was put to practical use in saving lives in the shortest possible time. It would not happen today!!