He then went to Strasbourg for three semesters. In 1874, Ehrlich returned to Breslau where he completed his medical degree studies. In 1877, he passed the state medical examination. In 1878 he received his medical degree.

             III. Research and Development.

             A. Discussion of the Area of Biology.

             Most of Ehrlich"s discoveries had something to do with the immune system. The immune system is a body system that is responsible for destroying disease-causing cells. When Ehrlich was still in school, he was staining white blood cells to see their different characteristics with his work on antibodies, he is knows as the "founder" of modern chemotherapy. If Ehrlich had not learned about the immune system, then he might not have discovered the different things he discovered. .

             B. Discoveries or Work.

             1. Summary (of all discoveries or work).

             Ehrlich helped to discover the antitoxin for diphtheria. Ehrlich discovered Trypan red, a dye that helped destroy cells that cause sleeping sickness. In 1909, Ehrlich discovered salvarsan, a cure for syphilis. His work with trypan red and salvarsan marked the beginning of modern chemotherapy.

             2. Details of Major Work or Major Discovery.

             In 1907, Ehrlich was working on a chemical compound. This compound he was testing on trypanosomes, which are the cells that cause sleeping sickness. The compound was named 606. Since it did not work, Ehrlich went on.

             In 1909, Ehrlich"s new assistant re-looked at chemical 606. It still did not work well on trypanosomes but very well on spirochets. Spirochets are the microorganism that causes the disease syphilis. In 1910, Ehrlich announced to the word the finding and renamed chemical 606 "salvarsan". .

             3. Major Contribution to Biology.

             Ehrlich"s major contribution to biology was his work on the immune system. He made the foundation for many scientists after him to discover cured for diseases. Without this contribution, we could still quite possibly have a life expectancy rate of 40 years.