1700-1900 [Germ Theory + Microbes] Flashcards
Although when the period began there was little change in ideas of the cause of disease, what would happen by 1900?
Huge breakthroughs made in discovery of true causes
What is a continuity in theory of disease?
Miasma
Was miasma more or less popular now than in the reminiscence?
Less
What new idea of disease cause involved germs being produced by decaying matter?
Spontaneous generation
By 1700 ,how had microscopes developed?
So that cloudy images (that would soon be known as bacteria or germs) could be seen.
By 1850 how had microscopes further improved?
Extremely tiny images could be seen clearly
What was the benefit of the microscope development?
It was essential and enabled the scientific breakthroughs of later 19th century
Who is Louis Paster?
French chemist
What is Paster publish?
“Germ Theory”
When did Pasteur publish Germ Theory?
1861
What book showed that microbes (bacteria or germs) in the air caused decay?
Germ theory.
What is the belief of germ theory?
That microbes (bacteria or germs) in the air caused decay
What else did Pasteur theorise but was unable to prove?
That germs also caused disease.
Who helped and was inspired by pastures work?
Robert Koch
Who was Robert Koch?
A German doctor and scientist
What did Koch find?
That Pasteur was right, and furthermore, he identified specific microbes that caused TB in 1883
What did Koch figure out that could be used to identify bacteria?
Chemical dye stains (to see easier under microscope)
What was the influence of Pasteurs discovery?
Germ theory had little impact on medicine to begin with as most doctors believed in spontaneous combustion
What was the influence of Kochs discovery?
More of an impact, he inspired others to research microbes. how ever it took time for most doctors to accept Germ Theory
. (Didn’t impact medical treatments and prevention)
