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Paul Ehrlich ( March 14, 1854– August 20, 1915) was a German scientist who won the 1908 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He is noted for his work in hematology, immunology, and chemotherapy. He coined the phrases magic bullet, and chemotherapy. The idea of a magic bullet is also his.

His life is depicted in the movie The Magic Bullet , which focused on Salvarsan, his cure for syphilis. His work raised the existence of the blood-brain barrier.

The " magic bullet" concept comes from the experience of 19th centuryAlternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical ( 18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801- 1900. Events The Little Ice Age ended German chemists with selectively staining tissues for histologicalHistology is the microscopic study of tissues—their formation, structure and function. Related biosciences include: cytology and cell biology, which are at a level below tissues, studying cells; anatomy, which is at a level above tissues, studying organs; examination, and in particular, selectively staining bacteria (Ehrlich was an exceptionally gifted histological chemistA chemist is a scientist who specializes in chemistry. The word derives from the older term alchemist. Also, in British English, the term is used for a pharmacist or a pharmacist's shop. See also: List of chemists, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Biography., and invented the precursor technique to Gram staining bacteria). Ehrlich figured that if a compound could be made that selectively targeted a diseaseA disease is any abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or distress to the person affected or those in contact with the person. Sometimes the term is used broadly to include injuries, disabilities, syndromes, symptoms, causing organismIn biology and ecology, an organism is a living being. The origin of life and the relationships between its major lineages are controversial. Two main grades may be distinguished, the prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The prokaryotes are generally considered to, then a toxinA toxin is a substance that causes either permanent or reversible injury to the health of a living thing on contact or absorption, typically by interacting with biological macromolecules such as enzymes and receptors. The term is usually reserved for natu for that organism could be delivered along with the agent of selectivity. Hence, a "magic bullet" would be created that killed only the organism targeted.

A problem with the use of the magic bullet concept as it emerged from its histological roots is that people confused the dye with the agent of tissue selectivity and antibiotic activity. Prontosil , a sulfonamide, whose active component is sulfanilamide, is a classic example of the fact that color is not essential to antibiotic activity.