"This fascinating history recounts the discovery of cortisone and pulls the curtain back on the peculiar cast of characters responsible for its advent, including two enigmatic scientists, Edward Kendall and Phillip Hench, who went on to receive the Nobel prize. The book also explores the key role the Mayo Clinic played in fostering cortisone's development , and looks at drugs that owe their heritage to the so-called 'King of Steroids.'"--Back cover.

Introduction -- Addison and his disease -- Introducing Dr. Kendall -- Life after the thyroid -- Introducing Dr. Hench -- Nice guys, saints, eccentrics, and geniuses -- 1929 and the decision to hunt for cortisone --Another Kendall false start, another great announcement -- Kendall strikes out again -- Kendall presses on -- Score: Szent-Györgyi-1; Kendall-0 -- Transitions and travels -- War looms -- Hench meets Kendall -- World War II and military steroid research -- Plants, politicians, and more pessimism -- Good-bye Marker, hello Sarett -- Hench returns to Mayo -- Push on? Give up? -- The decision to test compound E on rheumatoid arthritis -- The amazing Mrs. G. -- A promising start -- The bad and the ugly -- Progress and setbacks -- Convincing the skeptics -- Announcement -- The prize -- Stockholm -- Aftermath -- Twilight -- The end of the show -- Notes.