Age of promise.

A film made for a wide audience about the discovery of antibiotics. This (the 1950s) is 'an age of promise' illustrated with space age science fiction comics and images of scientific discovery beyond the telescope and under the microscope. (There is charming footage of a small boy playing with space toys at the beginning and end). Medicine is another frontier; atomic energy is put into service to create the antibiotic terramycin. Scientists work in the laboratory creating these life saving antibiotics. The film then focuses on the research and development story of the organisation - gathering soil looking for moulds. This is how the microbe terramycin was discovered. Deep fermentation tanks are shown on a large scale - this is just part of the process. The production line is shown with pill filled bottles. In hospitals, pneumonia and many other diseases have been cured. A boy is given antibiotics by the family doctor. Subsequently, it is shown that terramycin and other antibiotics have been given to animals prophylatically to promote growth. In combination with another antibiotic, it is sprayed on crops to prevent spoilage.