Final answer:
Paul Ehrlich used chemotherapy to treat C) cancer. So, Option C is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Paul Ehrlich did not use chemotherapy to treat smallpox (Option A), cholera (Option B), anthrax (Option D), or syphilis (Option E). The correct answer is C) cancer.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Paul Ehrlich, a German physician and Nobel laureate, pioneered the field of chemotherapy in the context of cancer treatment. His groundbreaking work focused on developing chemicals that could selectively target and kill cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells.
Ehrlich's approach laid the foundation for modern chemotherapy, introducing the concept of "magic bullets" – compounds with specific affinity for diseased cells. This marked a paradigm shift in the understanding and treatment of cancer, moving away from traditional, often harsh, therapeutic methods.
One notable example of Ehrlich's contributions is his development of the drug Salvarsan, which was effective against syphilis. Although syphilis was not the target of the chemotherapy question, it exemplifies Ehrlich's innovative approach.
By carefully designing chemicals to target specific pathogens or cancer cells, Ehrlich set the stage for the broader application of chemotherapy in various medical fields. His visionary work paved the way for the development of a diverse range of chemotherapeutic agents used in contemporary medicine to combat cancer effectively.