eating mouldy bread hundreds of years ago !

[bluedolphin]

Is it true that people years ago would eat mouldy bread whenthey had a fever/cold...did they make the connection that breadmould (similar to penecillin) had some curative effect...or is this just a myth?

[el duerino]

this rings bells but i cant confirm it categorically. does sound familiar tho.

[Clanad]

Not really; firstly colds are caused by virus, penicillin, from whatever source, would have no effect. Some time around 2950 B.C., Egyptian priests found that placing moldy bread on wounds resulted in little infection and more rapid healing. Eating moldy bread could make one very sick.. Many strains of Penicillium grow on moldy bread and they contain toxins as well as penicillin. Aspergillus, for example, looks a lot like Penicilliun but are very poisionous...