#Whump science

[teine-mallaichte]

I’ve been brainstorming (and when I say brainstorming I really mean "daydreaming about while at work") a concept I’m now dubbing “Neurobehavioral Conditioning” or “Neuro-Operant Training” — basically an advanced way to "train" a whumpee by combining behavior conditioning, operant conditioning, and behavioral modification. Think of it as a futuristic shock collar, but with a twist.

The general concept is that of an implant. This implant would be remote, controlled by the trainer, owner, whumper, etc, and at eh press of a button would "reward" the whumpee for good behaviour, following orders, being submissive, or whatever else.

I have three ideas for this implant:

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Mechanism: DBS involves implanting electrodes in specific brain areas, like the nucleus accumbens, to stimulate pleasure and reward centers.

Control: A remote control would adjust stimulation levels to reward good behavior.

Pros: Highly targeted, adjustable stimulation.

Cons: Requires surgery with risks like infection and brain damage.

Real World Inspiration: DBS is used to treat conditions like Parkinson’s and severe depression, showing its ability to enhance specific brain functions.

2. Insulin Pump-like Device Administering Euphoric Drugs

Mechanism: This device would release small doses of a euphoric drug into the bloodstream.

Control: The trainer can control dosage and timing to reinforce positive behavior.

Pros: Easier to implement than brain surgery, easily adjustable.

Cons: Risks of addiction, tolerance, and side effects.

Real World Inspiration: Think of insulin pumps but for mood-enhancing substances. While not perfect, the concept of continuous, controlled substance delivery is pretty similar.

3. Insulin Pump-like Device Administering Neurotransmitters

Mechanism: Releases neurotransmitters directly into the brain, affecting mood and behavior.

Control: Like the drug pump, it’s remotely controlled for precise neurotransmitter release.

Pros: Direct and potentially faster-acting than drugs.

Cons: Requires precise control to avoid imbalances and side effects.

Real World Inspiration: Current research on neurotransmitter modulation in psychiatric treatments.

Now… Imagine This:

The whumpee is unaware of the implant. Every time they follow an order or please the whumper, the button is pressed and they experience a wave of pleasure. The sense of joy and satisfaction becomes so intertwined with their compliance that eventually the button may not even need to be pressed. In Whumpees mind the wave of pleasure comes directly from obedience.

** Whumper glanced up, catching Whumpees eye. “You’ve done very well today. I’m proud of you.” Whumpees chest swelled with warmth at the praise. They didn’t fully understand the source of their happiness, but in that moment, it felt perfectly aligned with their purpose. The sense of joy and satisfaction was so deeply intertwined with their compliance that they couldn’t imagine anything else.**

**Whumper called out gently "Could you please tidy up the coffee table, dear? It looks a bit cluttered." Whumpee "Of course!" They move swiftly to the coffee table, clearing away magazines and placing them neatly in a stack. As they work, they hum softly, a look of contentment on their face. The moment they finish, a wave of pleasurable warmth washes over them, originating from deep within their mind. They feel a sense of happiness and fulfillment, a smile spreading across their face as if they had just accomplished something truly meaningful.**

I feel the subtlety of influencing the whumpee’s emotions makes this concept all the more intriguing (and creepy). Sure, the whumper could crank up the remote to enforce submission, but the quiet conditioning might be even more satisfying.

Honestly, maybe it's a good job that I never actually qualified as a doctor what this is the sort of thoughts I have while stood in a gym yelling at someone on a treadmill 😂.

Mandatory science dump Under the cut

Key Neurotransmitters and Their Functions:

Dopamine:

Function: Often referred to as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, dopamine plays a crucial role in reward, motivation, and pleasure. It also influences movement and emotional responses.

Theoretical Effect of Artificial Addition: Increasing dopamine levels can enhance feelings of pleasure and reward, potentially improving mood and motivation.

Too much = addiction and psychosis.

Serotonin:

Function: Serotonin is involved in regulating mood, appetite, sleep, and memory. It has a calming effect and helps maintain a balanced mood.

Theoretical Effect of Artificial Addition: Boosting serotonin levels can improve mood and reduce anxiety and depression.

Too much = serotonin syndrome.

Norepinephrine:

Function: This neurotransmitter is involved in the body’s “fight or flight” response. It increases alertness, arousal, and attention.

Theoretical Effect of Artificial Addition: Enhancing norepinephrine can improve focus and energy levels.

Too much = anxiety and high blood pressure.

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid):

Function: GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. It helps reduce neuronal excitability and promotes relaxation and calmness.

Theoretical Effect of Artificial Addition: Increasing GABA levels can have a calming effect, reducing anxiety and promoting sleep.

Too much = excessive sedation.

Acetylcholine:

Function: This neurotransmitter is involved in muscle activation, memory, and learning.

Theoretical Effect of Artificial Addition: Enhancing acetylcholine can improve memory and cognitive function.

Too much = Muscle cramps.

Key Brain Areas for DBS for this purpose:

Nucleus Accumbens (NAc):

Function: The NAc is a central part of the brain’s reward circuit. It plays a crucial role in processing pleasure, reward, and reinforcement learning.

Theoretical Effect of DBS: Stimulating the NAc can enhance feelings of pleasure and reward, potentially improving mood and motivation. This area is often targeted in treatments for depression and addiction.

Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA):

Function: The VTA is involved in the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.

Theoretical Effect of DBS: Stimulating the VTA can increase dopamine release, enhancing reward-related behaviors and potentially improving mood.

Medial Forebrain Bundle (MFB):

Function: The MFB is a pathway that connects the VTA to the NAc and other brain regions involved in reward processing.

Theoretical Effect of DBS: Stimulating the MFB can modulate the entire reward circuit, potentially providing a more comprehensive enhancement of pleasure and motivation.

Central Amygdala (CeA):

Function: Traditionally associated with fear, recent studies have shown that the CeA also has neurons involved in reward processing.

Theoretical Effect of DBS: Stimulating the reward-related neurons in the CeA can promote positive behaviors and enhance feelings of reward

A few real world related technologies and research that explore similar concepts:

Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) Systems:

These systems combine insulin pumps with continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to automatically adjust insulin delivery based on real-time glucose levels1. The technology and principles behind these systems could be adapted for neurotransmitter delivery.

Neurotransmitter Modulation in Psychiatric Treatments:

Treatments for conditions like depression and anxiety often involve modulating neurotransmitter levels using medications such as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) to increase serotonin levels2. While not delivered via a pump, the concept of adjusting neurotransmitter levels to influence behavior is similar.

Research on Neurostimulation and Neurotransmitter Release:

Studies have explored the use of electrical stimulation to influence neurotransmitter release in the brain. For example, deep brain stimulation (DBS) can affect dopamine levels, which is relevant for treating Parkinson’s disease.

[jordanstrophe]

Whumpee’s tied down in a hospital gown gagged and blindfolded. 

The gag is so they don’t bite.

The blindfold is so no one has to look into their eyes when they run unethical experiments.

Besides, they’re here for the science, not torture. They had the stomach for blood but not for the crying.

[echoingalaxies]

One of my favorite comfort tropes is Caretaker seeing Whumpee smile or hearing them laugh for the first time after whatever happened to them - or for the first time ever.

And they'll silently promise themselves to do everything in their power to make that sight/sound a frequent occurrence in their life.

[the-three-whumpeteers]

The whumper kept and studied the whumpee like they were some kind of animal- yet they never once tried to make the whumpee comfortable, they only got just enough to survive. The whumpee would try to reason with the whumper, convince them to let them go, but the whumper was only ever interested in learning more. This eventually moved to “tests”, rigorous and painful procedures that the whumper would perform in their pursuit of knowledge. Anything from high stress situations to outright torture- anything to know just a little more.

[whump-captain]

it's a beautiful day in the unethical lab and you are a horrible test subject

[will-o-the-wips]

How many times do you have to kill an immortal before they break?

[mottinthepot18]

Art done for @whumpy-wyrms of Anton and Basil!

[whatiswhump]

I love the use of a taser, especially when it isn’t necessary.

Whumpee was going to comply without it but before they can, out of nowhere and without provocation they are stunned into oblivion so that they are then manhandled into whatever it is- dragged back in after being caught escaping or onto the table for the next round of experiments.

If they would’ve waited, whumpee was going to go with them, they were going to comply-

[mj-iza-writer]

Whumptober Day 24

Radiation Poisoning - Collapsed Building - Equipment Failure - I never knew daylight could be so violent (Florence, The Machine No Light, No Light)

Twenty-four hours.

It had been twenty-four hours since the equipment had a minor blow up in the lab.

Twenty-four hours since Whumpee was given a lab shower to get all of the goop off. They were always harsh when these showers were done. Whumpee knew the goop needed to come off, but how they longed for a gentle hand. Someone to make it feel okay... even while in pain.

They shuddered.

They were now restrained in a wheelchair in the center of their room. Naked as naked can be.

"Do you feel any different at all Whumpee?", a researcher went over the radio. They had to monitor the lab rat. They weren't sure what the goop was, and the rat had been covered in it.

"I'm cold and tired. Please I just want sleep", Whumpee whined, "can I have my clothes back at least?"

"No, we are monitoring the burn on your stomach, and can't do anything until we know what the goop was", the scientist sighed, "so nothing has changed?"

"I'm more tired. Can I at least go to bed yet? How long has it been since I've slept?", Whumpee whined some more.

"You may not sleep as we are monitoring you. You've been awake for twenty-four hours now", the scientist replied.

Whumpee swung their head back and groaned, "why am I being punished for this?"

"It's not a punishment. Whumper is actually concerned about you. Hence the monitoring", the scientist sounded annoyed now, "be patient."

"Can I at least have some heat? I'm shivering. I'm still fairly damp because someone didn't dry me off properly. Plus, I'm naked", Whumpee pleaded.

"I'll ask Whumper", the scientist sighed.

- "Whumper, patient 01134, Whumpee is asking if we may turn up the heat in the monitor room. Body temp is normal. Room temp is 60°F. They said they are freezing", the monitoring scientists texted Whumper.

- "Yes, that's fine. No wonder they're cold. We are finishing up with the research. The substance doesn't seem to be dangerou. We need another hour or so. I'll come up when all is done. Does everything seem to be okay on their end?"

- The scientist received the text, "yes they say there are no changes. They are tired from being awake for so long. Sore. Cold. Nothing major."

- "Perfect."

"Whumper has given permission to raise the temperature for you", they spoke into the radio again, "now, be a good little patient and sit their quietly."

Whumpee sighed happily when heat started in their room.

"That's nice", Whumpee whispered in relief.

Whumper stepped into Whumpee's room after a little while and knelt beside the chair.

"Whumpee", they whispered.

Whumpee had fallen asleep. Those monitoring them had run out of ways to keep them awake.

Whumpee let out a disturbed snore before opening their eyes.

"Doc", Whumpee looked at Whumper.

"Yes, it's me. We just got back results. The goop was nontoxic. I'm pleased to say you are in the clear", Whumper smirked.

"That's good", Whumpee yawned tiredly, "can I sleep in my bed now?"

"I actually have a surprise for you. I'm going to cover you in a blanket, and take you somewhere", Whumper stood up.

"Where?", Whumpee questioned.

"It's a surprise", Whumper chuckled, "you've been such a good lab rat lately, so you've earned it. Plus, I now have to fix the lab due to the explosion." They unlocked the restraints, "are you ready?"

Whumpee was stopped in front of an elevator.

Whumper waited for the doors to open then backed Whumpee inside.

"Are we... are we going to Caretaker's floor?", Whumpee questioned when they saw Whumper hit the button.

"I don't know. Are we?", Whumper chuckled, "yes, Caretaker said they would take care of you while the lab was being fixed."

Whumpee excitedly watched the floors change.

"How long will I be with Caretaker?", Whumpee peaked back at Whumper.

"What, are you in a hurry to get back to my tests?", Whumper laughed as they pushed the wheelchair off of the elevator.

Whumpee thought for a moment on what they should say.

"No", Whumpee finally whispered, "not really."

"Aww, you're breaking my heart my dear", Whumper joked, "I guess I understand though. I'd rather stay with Caretaker, too. He spoils his patients."

"I wouldn't call it spoiling", someone stepped out of a room, "we just treat patients a little differently in the infirmary."

"Other wise known as spoiling" Whumper smirked, "not knocking it, I definitely appreciate you taking care of the accidental injuries my experiments cause. Here is your newest one."

"Yes, I've read a little bit already", Caretaker smiled at Whumpee, "let's see", they knelt down.

Whumpee couldn't help their nervousness and watched Caretaker closely.

Caretaker sensed their unease.

"It's alright, I'm only going to check your burn", Caretaker promised as they carefully pealed the blanket away, "we will get you in a nice warm bath. Then a snack. Then you can rest for a while."

Whumpee perked up at the plan.

"Alright. I'll leave you in Caretaker's capable hands. Have fun being spoiled. They don't have any limitations on them either. They earned a full rest, so there are no restrictions."

"Perfect", Caretaker smiled at Whumpee, "are you ready?"

Whumpee excitedly nodded.

Whumpee stood beside a giant sink while Caretaker filled it up with water.

"Caretaker what is that?", Whumpee watched them pour something else into the water.

"That will help your burn and any other wounds you have. It's antibacterial and soothing", Caretaker felt the water temperature, "perfect "

Whumpee climbed into the sink and sat down.

"This feels so much better than the lab showers", Whumpee sighed contentedly.

"Anything feels better that", Caretaker smiled, "alright lean your head back please."

Caretaker worked shampoo into Whumpee's scalp until it was fully covered. The lather sat an inch above Whumpee's head.

"I might cut a few inches of hair off. Would you be okay if I did that?", Caretaker reached for a cup to help rinse Whumpee's head.

"I don't know what Doc wants", Whumpee whispered.

"It's not up to Whumper. If you want some hair cut off, we will do it", Caretaker tipped Whumpee's head back and started to rinse away the shampoo. They held one hand on Whumpee's forehead to guard their eyes from getting soap in them.

"I feel really good", Whumpee smiled as they ate a snack.

Caretaker trimmed some of Whumpee's hair.

"I'm glad to hear that", Caretaker grinned, "after this I'll get you into bed. It's pretty late, so you will be able to sleep in tomorrow."

Whumpee nodded eagerly.

The next morning.

"Whumpee it's time for you to get up", Caretaker gently shook them.

Whumpee squinted their eyes open and smiled.

"It wasn't a dream?" Whumpee looked around and saw the room, then Caretaker.

"Not at all, you're up in my infirmary to heal" Caretaker smiled, "are you ready for breakfast?"

"Yes sir", Whumpee nodded, "what do you want me to wear?"

"Your pajamas you have on are fine. You get to be cozy up here", Caretaker smiled as they helped Whumpee up, "pajamas are more than welcomed."

Whumpee sat happily until they saw Whumper walk in.

"Hey, are you ready to come back yet?", Whumper looked at them seriously.

"But, but, but" Whumpee almost felt their lip quiver.

"Hey, I'm just kidding. The lab is definitely not ready and you still have time to heal", Whumper waved their hands in surrender when they thought Whumpee was going to cry.

"That's a mean prank", Caretaker came in with a plate of cut fruit, "no wonder your patients are always on edge."

"I just came up to see how they were doing. They look happy, so that's good", Whumper grinned, "Caretaker can I talk to you privately?"

Caretaker nodded as they set the plate in front of Whumpee.

Whumpee wondered what was said, but didn't ask.

Caretaker still seemed to be in good spirits so that was good.

Whumpee was taken back to their room after breakfast.

"All of my things are here?", Whumpee looked around.

"Yes" Caretaker nodded, "you will be staying up here for a little longer", Caretaker sighed.

"I-is something wrong?", Whumpee backed away.

"Uhm, some what, but don't worry about it right now. How about we get your decorations put up", Caretaker went for one of the boxes.

"Caretaker, I want to know", Whumpee frowned, "I'm happy to stay up here, but I know Doc isn't one to retire lab rats unless something is wrong."

"You are one if my smarter rats", a voice came from behind, "Caretaker I'll let them know."

"Doc?", Whumpee frowned.

"Sit down", Whumper pointed at the bed.

Caretaker sat down and held their arms open for Whumpee.

Whumper leaned against the wall.

They sighed, "that goop that got on you was deemed nondangerous... at least so we thought. It is highly radioactive. For fun, we held a meter tool by it. Unexpectedly, the meter read a large amount. You were unfortunately in the room when the explosion happened. It got all over you... and inside of you. I believe some entered you through your burn. Unfortunately, you have what is called radioactive poisoning. Your blood work came back highly positive, so there is a lot."

Whumpee gulped, "so how does that get fixed?"

Whumper looked down.

"You can fix it right? Doc? If anyone can it's you", Whumpee pleaded.

"There isn't anything anyone can do", Whumper looked at Whumpee compassionately, "it's unfortunately inside of you."

"What about everyone else?", Whumpee looked down, "and Caretaker?"

"It isn't contagious. So Caretaker and I are safe. The team had appropriate protection on, so they should be fine as well. We are waiting on bloodwork. If you had just gotten it on you I think you would have been fine too. I think though it got in through the burn and maybe other ports of entrance like your mouth."

"What does this mean for me?", Whumpee whispered.

"Well you are retired from being a lab rat. Caretaker is going to give you the best retirement he can. The end result...", Whumper's voice cut out with a small sob, "Uh, the end result will be death... a sooner death than you deserve I fear."

Whumpee looked down over themself, "I'm going to die?", Whumpee looked at Caretaker, "bu... but I don't want to... die. There is nothing that can be done?"

"No Whumpee, I'm sorry. I will help make sure you won't experience pain or discomfort. You will be very comfortable", Whumper frowned, "I'm sorry, I really did not want this to happen. To you especially."

"I'll make sure you are comfortable as well", Caretaker chimed in as they hugged Whumpee close.

Whumpee had wiped a few tears away already, and was shaking in Caretaker's arms.

"How long do I have?", Whumpee whispered.

"I, uh, don't really know. You might start displaying signs soon, or you could be alive for a few more years. Everyone is different", Whumper reached and held a comforting hand on Whumpee's shoulder, "I am really, really sorry that this happened. I really did not want to deliver these news, but I know how smart you are. Let me know if you need me for anything."

Whumpee nodded and burried their face into Caretaker's chest to cry.

"I'll text you if they need something", Caretaker rubbed circles into Whumpee's back.

Minutes turned into hours.

Whumper came back up to check on things after not hearing anything else from Caretaker.

Caretaker was just stepping out of Whumpee's room.

"They cried themself to sleep", Caretaker whispered.

Whumper nodded, "I'm heartbroken. I had planned to retire them. I told myself just one more experiment, then I will pack them up and move them up here for permanent retirement. That decision cost them their life... that's my fault."

"You didn't know. It would have happened regardless of who was in that room", Caretaker frowned, "though I don't always like what you are doing.."

"Someone else would have been expendable", Whumper looked back at the room, "my favorite rat wasn't."

"Maybe this will teach you not to play with people's lives so freely", Caretaker frowned.

Whumper nodded.

"Will you keep an eye on them for me. If you notice any pain let me know. I've got stuff to keep them out of pain."

Caretaker nodded, "I will, they are in good hands."

"Thankyou... Caretaker, I, uh, appreciate you taking care of them" Whumper started to turn.

"Doc?" Whumpee peaked out through a crack in the door.

"Yes Whumpee?", Whumper quickly wiped a tear away, "how can I help you."

"Will you visit me a lot until I die?", Whumpee whispered.

"Of course I will. I will be here daily to check on you", Whumper smiled, "I promise."

Whumpee nodded and gently closed the door.

Whumper turned back to Caretaker.

"I need to leave. I'm about to cry", Whumper hurried away.

"Yep, hate for the big tough scientist to be seen as sensitive", Caretaker called after them.

Caretaker sighed, "and I'll clean up your mess... like always."

Taglist. As always please let me know if you want to be added or taken off of the list. It's not a problem at all.

@villainsandheroes @the-beasts-have-arrived

@sacredwrath @porschethemermaid

@monarchthefirst @generic-whumperz

@bloodyandfrightened @freefallingup13

@notpeppermint @cyborg0109

@idontreallyexistyet @painfulplots

@whumpbump @everythingsscary

@skittles-the-whumpee @expressionless-fr

@theforeverdyingperson @legendarydelusiongoatee

@candleshopmenace @whumpanthems

@lavndvrr @ivymyers

@starfields08000 @a-living-canvas

@lumpofsand @watermeezer

@indigoviolet311 @whumpy-mountains

@3-2-whump @risk606

@electrons2006 @paperprinxe

@whumprince @kaz-of-crows

@mis-graves @decaffeinatedtimetraveler94

@sausages-things @ragin-cajun-fangirl

@isikedmyself878 @daffyduckcommittedtaxfraud

@valravnthefrenchie @glennemerald

@jasperthecapser @does-directions

@deafeninglittlecrown @jumpywhumpywriter

@blackbirdsinatrenchcoat @mylifeisonthebookshelf

[whumpy-wyrms]

he wants to experiment on u so bad rn

[whumpinthepot]

Mad(ly in love) Scientist

[befuddled-calico-whump]

could you please please give more reasons for a whumper to, well, whump? i feel like sometimes my writing is disconnected because they don’t have any realistic motives to do what they do

Sure!

For Security: the whumpee has been overthrown in some way by the whumper, who keeps them under lock and key to prevent them from accumulating power and reclaiming their position.

For Gloating: the whumpee and whumper were bitter rivals. When whumper finally bests whumpee, they keep them around to relive the moment.

For Utility: the whumpee possesses a rare skill, and the whumper kidnaps or imprisons them in order to have access to it. (Bonus points if the whumpee refuses to comply!)

For Punishment: similar to vengeance, the whumpee is deemed villainous or criminal by society, and the whumper(s) feel justified in hurting them. After all, they deserve it, don't they?

For Fun: the whumper is in power over whumpee in some way, and has taken to torturing or tormenting them whenever they get bored.

For Deterrence: the whumpee has broken a rule and must be made an example of.

and as @stabbysheep said,

For Science: the whumper is conducting experiments, either out of curiosity or necessity, and they need the whumpee for the trials. Could be completely legal (maybe whumpee is a criminal, maybe they volunteered not knowing what they were signing up for, maybe they're not human), or not (whumpee is kidnapped to be used as the perfect test subject).

even more reasons

[urlocalwhumper]

scientist caretaker finally gets a job at some obscure lab they've never heard of. maybe a bit worrying, but whatever, they're fresh out of school and need the job. their boss is also concerningly vague about what exactly they'll be doing, but once again, they need the job.

once they're all settled in, their boss takes them down to the testing chamber. caretaker is expecting to be experimenting on something like rats or bugs, but their boss flicks on the lights and oh my fucking god that is a whole ass living person

[the-three-whumpeteers]

The whumpee had been raised by the whumper, treated like an experiment their entire life. The whumpee had been convinced that they weren’t human by now, learning to bear the pain of every experiment just to make their creator happy.

[whereserpentswalk]

Your girlfriend used to be a supersolider. I mean physically she still is, but she doesn't work as one anymore because of an injury taking away the use of one of her arms. She's been through a lot, she's been fighting for longer then unmodified humans tend to live, even with life extension technology, she's been fighting for longer then even the planet you're on has been colonized by humans. The empire she fought for is long gone, but she's still here.

She looks strangely inhuman. Her body looks almost like a statue, she's so perfectly lean and muscular, but in an almost inhuman way. Her eyes are strangely colored, and her skin has pieces of machinery sticking out of her. She's more human looking then the cyborgs you tend to see throughout the city, but there's something most people consider off about her. People always act uncomfortable around her, especially since her body language is kind of stilted, and her face doesn't show emotion, it makes her think of herself as less human than she is.

She's strangely skittish due to her past. Robots always scare her, even ones you consider small and cute. Occasionally she'll see someone with a visor covering their face and she'll want to avoid them due to some memory she has about that. She can't sleep when spaceships are passing overhead, and you'll have to hold her and comfort her until the sound ends.

Most people you meet just walking around the city think of her as being sort of creepy. A lot of your freinds talk behind her back about how she's killed people before. A lot of people think she doesn't feel emotions just because her body doesn't show them, a lot of people think it's impossible for her to love you.

You do your best to make her feel safe. You pet her skin, and kiss her a lot, and play with her hair. You feel the need to make her feel comfortable again. Whoever made her into what she is now took away her ability to feel sexual pleasure, but she seems to enjoy pleasuring you. She wants to cry when she lays her head agaisnt your breast, but her eyes can't do that anymore.

She seems to so often feel like a monster, feel like something designed to hurt people. She's so aware that her body itself is built as a weapon of war, that it makes her feel like violence itself is her nature. But you tell her that she doesn't have to be violent anymore if she doesn't want to. And you call her pretty, people have said a lot of things about her body, but you don't think anyone has called her pretty before.

[macgyvermedical]

Magic Bullets: The Antibiotic Story

The year was 1907 and a Dr. Alfred Bertheim was trying to make arsenic less toxic to humans.

Why? Because in addition to killing humans, arsenic also kills trypanosomes- single-celled protozoa that cause the life-threatening infection trypanosomiasis. By creating a version of arsenic that still killed the protozoa, but not the human they infected, Dr. Bertheim could create a drug to treat the disease*.

This was not a fully new idea. About 50 years earlier, a drug called Atoxyl had been created in France. About 40 times less toxic than pure arsenic, it had been shown to not only successfully treat trypanosomiasis, but also the equally devastating syphilis infection.

But 40 times less toxic than pure arsenic is still not great. About 2% of people treated even one time with the drug ended up blind, among a myriad of other side effects. It was a start, but not ideal.

And Dr. Bertheim (under the direction of better-known Dr. Paul Ehrlich) was setting out to change that.

And it just so happened that the sixth compound from the sixth group he tried did so. Known as "compound 606", the new Arsphenamine could treat trypanosomiasis, relapsing fever, and syphilis very effectively- and it didn't leave its takers dead or blind.

Most of the time, at least. See, arsphenamine, also known by the brand name salvarsan, was a pain in the ass to administer. It had to be dissolved in several hundred mililiters of water under a nitrogen atmosphere to prepare it for administration. If it touched air, it would rapidly react, causing toxic byproducts that could cause liver failure, severe skin rashes, and even death.

But both trypanosomiasis and syphilis were definitely going to kill you, so it was worth the risk.

And the seed had been planted, so to say. The idea of a chemical able to kill infection-causing agents without killing the host was a true possibility for the future of medicine.

And by 1912, Neosalvarsan, a drug somewhat less effective -but far easier to administer and with significantly fewer side effects- was on the market. Over the next decade, Neosalvarsan would be responsible for a massive drop in syphilis cases worldwide.

But neither of the drugs could treat deadly infections from staph or strep or the hundreds of other bacterial or viral infections that still had no cure in the 1910's and 1920's.

Then came the first of the heavy-hitters. Bayer was a dye company when it started, and in 1932, three and a half decades after switching mostly to pharmaceuticals, chemists at Bayer were testing the company's dyes for anti-infective properties. They went through thousands of trials, finally finding a dye that could kill streptococcal bacteria without killing a mouse host.

Pre-1930s, streptococcal disease was a major problem. It caused strep throat, cellulitis, scarlet fever, childbed (purpural) fever, some forms of toxic shock syndrome, impetigo, necrotizing fasciitis, rheumatic fever, and many others. The skin infections may have been at least somewhat treatable with a hot compress, but the rest were prone to cause blindness, deafness, loss of limbs, and for many, loss of life.

In 1936, sulfonamide antibiotics changed that. Protosil, the first of the sulfonamides, became available to treat many of the infections listed above. These would be used for wound infections throughout WWII. Unfortunately, they would also cause the untimely death of nearly 100 people via the Elixer Sulfanilamide tragedy.

Sulfanilamide was a similar drug to Prontosil and was safe and effective for treating strep infections. However, when mixed with diethylene glycol (now used as standard car antifreeze) to make it into a liquid suspension, it was deadly. See this letter from a doctor who had prescribed the liquid form of the medication, not knowing it was poison:

[to read more about the Elixer Sulfanilamide Disaster, see here]

Despite the sulfanilamide tragedy, the race was on for more antibiotics. Three years before they went on the market, researchers had found evidence of bacterial resistance to sulfonamides. What would happen when these new bacteria, that didn't die when exposed to the new wonder drug, made up so much of the bacterial population?

In 1942, the Cocoanut Grove fire in Boston caused over 492 deaths and 130 injuries. The injured were among the first to receive a remarkable new drug called penicillin. The fire and the fate of the victims were publicized throughout the world, and penicillin became a household name overnight. But once again, even before it went on the market in 1943, just in time for the end of the Second World War, there was evidence of resistance.

But fortunately, the fire had been sparked. Over the next 30 years, many dozens of antibiotics would come into clinical use. If you've taken it, it probably came out between 1940 and 1970. Tetracycline, isoniazid, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, vancomycin, amoxicillin, and dozens more you've never heard of.

And then? Nothing.

Well, not completely nothing, there were a couple that came out in the 1980s and a few in the early 2000s. But nothing like that 30-year golden age.

But now we're running into problems due to drug resistance. About 1.27 million people die annually directly from antibiotic resistant infection, while antibiotic resistance contributes to about 4.95 million more deaths.

The good news is that the drugs that are being made today are directly targeting those antibiotic resistant infections. In fact, as I'm writing this, a new drug (Zosurabalpin) is being tested for a bacteria called Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, which up until now has had no antibiotic that works against it.

*as you may imagine for the time period, this was not necessarily a benevolent act. See, most of the reason Europeans wanted to treat trypanosomiasis in the first place was because they kept dying of it when they went to colonize Africa. And they wanted something that would give them a leg up on the people who were already there.