1921

Diabetes is one of the chronic diseases human beings have ever faced. It is not until the summer of the year 1921 on July 27th, that scientists at the University of Toronto, Canada were able to isolate insulin a hormone used to combat diabetes. Within a year, insulin was available to people with diabetes. The scientists, J. J. R. Macleod and Fredrick Banting received the Nobel Prize in medicine two years after the success of the isolation.

In what was to be a game change in modern warfare, the German Workers’ Party better known as the Nazi Party ruled the whole of Germany from 1933 to 1945. The party formed in 1919 made Adolf Hitler its party leader in 1921. Being party leader was a stepping-stone to Hitler becoming Germany’s Chancellor in 1933. The Nazi party was composed of Germans unhappy with the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I. Germany’s defeat in World War II brought about the outlawing of the Nazi Party and its top officials convicted of war crimes related to the Holocaust.

By December 9, a young engineer, Thomas Midgeley Jr. at General Motors (GM) had grown tired of the annoying noises made by internal combustion engines when running. These sounds referred to as knock or pinging are rather very annoying, Midgeley experimented with diverse elements until he found success with lead. Thanks to the activities of the day, we do not have to deal with the clattering of engines today. Lead is still one of the widely used antiknock agents despite its adverse effects on the human body. Companies today have since started phasing out the manufacturing of engines that require lead.

The past hold bitter and sweet memories of times past that ought not to happen again. History makes true the adage that goes; experience is the best teacher.