3.1.1 Germ Theory Flashcards
Surgeons thought that microbes were caused by disease in something called what?
Spontaneous generation - microbes were a symptom and diseases developed randomly, creating bacteria
What did a contagionist believe?
Diseases could be spread through contact
What did anti-contagionists believe?
Disease spread through miasma
What did Pasteur try to explain in 1857 and why?
Why the sugar beet used to ferment alcohol soured because he believed that germs in the air were important
What experiment did Pasteur carry out involving water?
He found that sterilised water was still sterile if the flask was closed but not sterile if the flask was open. This suggested that there were germs in the air
In which year was the Germ Theory published?
1861
What was the germ theory?
Germs caused infections
What invention allowed Pasteur to see the micro-organisms that he described?
Microscopes invented in the 17th century
What did Pasteur face due to his theory?
Serious opposition
Why was Pasteur’s theory opposed?
Doctors could not believe that such small germs could cause harm to the human body.
Which famous doctor supported the Theory of Spontaneous Generation?
Charlton Bastian
Implications of the Germ Theory (3)
- It proved that spontaneous generation was false
- It proved that disease was not spread by miasma
- It proved Galen’s theory of the Four Humours was wrong as an imbalance of them did not cause disease
What did advances in technology mean?
Diseases could be identified and stopped more easily
Following Germ Theory was was developed and made very popular?
Drugs
How did Germ Theory apply to everyday hospital treatments?
- Survival rate of surgery increased
- Vaccinations became more popular
- Hospitals became cleaner
