Fred & Marjorie:  A Doctor, a Dog, and the Discovery of Insulin

By Deborah Kerbel    

Illustrated by Angela Poon

Fred & Marjorie: A Doctor, a Dog, and the Discovery of Insulin is a Junior  Non-Fiction selection in a “graphic novel format”. The setting is the University of Toronto, Canada, in the 1920s. The clear text and realistic illustrations in soft colors make this a most enjoyable read.

Dr. Frederick Banting was a penniless surgeon who was inspired to discover a treatment for juvenile diabetes, a disease that at that time
was fatal. Along with the help of a student assistant, Charles Best, they developed a plan that involved using stray dogs. Read to find out what procedure they used with the dogs. A chart on page 21 will help you easily understand the procedure.

The practice of using animals in experiments broke Dr. Banting’s heart, as he had grown up on a farm and loved animals.  He especially
became fond of a stray he named Marjorie. Marjorie survived the longest of any dog that was given the experimental treatment. She has been called “the most important dog in the world.”

In the back of the book, the Author’s Notes offer factual information and photographs of  Marjorie, Dr. Banting, Charles Best, Dog 408, and a handwritten note of Dr. Banting’s, describing his plan for the treatment of diabetes. Also addressed, is the “Ethical Dilemma” of using animals for research.

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