The Remedy: Robert Koch, Arthur Conan Doyle, and the Quest to Cure Tuberculosis

A beguiling real-life medical detective story that explores the birth of modern medicine and the creation of Sherlock Holmes.

Imagine a time when science could offer no hope for human disease, when cholera, smallpox, and - most of all - tuberculosis killed millions unimpeded. This was reality a mere 130 years ago. In 1882, through a series of simple but bold experiments, scientist Robert Koch discovered the germ that caused TB, creating a worldwide sensation. Eager for greater glory, he abandoned his principles and prematurely announced a cure - a remedy.

As Europe's consumptives descended upon Berlin, so too did Arthur Conan Doyle, then a small-town doctor and sometime writer. Investigating Koch's remedy, he was aghast to discover its true nature. The Remedy explores this pivotal moment for both men, as Conan Doyle would create a new character, the scientific detective Sherlock Holmes, and Koch would be forced to defend his remedy - and his reputation - to a skeptical world.