Behring, Emil von 1854-1917. German physician
who discovered that the body produces
antitoxins, substances able to counteract
poisons released by bacteria. Using this
knowledge, he developed new treatments for
diseases such as diphtheria. Educated in
Berlin, Behring was Robert Koch's assistant
before becoming professor of hygiene at Halle
and Marburg. He won the 1901 Nobel Prize for
Medicine.