1942 Penicillin1944 First test tube calf 1955 Polio vaccine1967 First heart transplant 1990 Genetic engineering2000? Nanotechnology Guinea pig children in tests From the Daily Mail,  29 April 1955 The Government has acted to ensure that Britain benefits fully and quickly from the poliomyelitis vaccine discovered by America's Dr Salk. Mr Iain Macleod, Minister of Health, told the Commons that the Government would buy the whole output of two firms ready to produce the vaccine in great quantities. The poliomyelitis vaccine This means the vaccine will be available through the National Health Service. The Minister said it was hoped that all tests would be finished by the autumn and that substantial quantities would be available for inoculation by the end of the year. The two firms concerned are Glaxo and Burroughs Wellcome. Both will be in full-scale production early next year. The vaccine is derived from the kidneys of dead monkeys and the supply of monkeys is a matter of concern to the authorities. Peak production will require 1,000 monkeys a month. The Medical Research Council have approached the Indian Government to allow the two firms to import monkeys by licence. In the Commons Mr Macleod said there must be a little caution in the excitement about the discovery. The vaccine must be investigated thoroughly to make sure it was effective against the polio virus most common here. After extensive tests in the US it was claimed that the vaccine was up to 90 per cent effective there. It was not clear whether the vaccine is fully effective for children aged four and under - among whom the polio incidence is highest.