Dr. Florence Siebert
Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Birth site of the renowned biochemist. In spite of the handicap of polio, she developed in the 1920s a safe process for intravenous therapy. Later, in 1934, she refined the tuberculin skin test that was ultimately adopted worldwide.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Born on this Easton ground, biochemist Florence Siebert overcame the lasting effects of childhood polio to build a pioneering scientific career. In the 1920s she developed a method to make intravenous therapy safe by eliminating the fevers caused by contaminated solutions, and in 1934 she refined the tuberculin skin test into a reliable form. Her purified protein derivative became the international standard for detecting tuberculosis.
Why it matters
Siebert's work made intravenous medicine safe and gave the world a dependable test for tuberculosis, saving countless lives and marking a milestone for women in American science.
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Related people
- · Florence Siebert
Themes & tags
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