Germ Theory

Ben Chung — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:21:53 GMT

Current revision posted to Wiki by Ben Chung on 7/22/2009 2:21:53 PM

Germ Theory

The germ theory of disease, also called the pathogenic theory of medicine, is a theory that proposes that microorganisms are the cause of many diseases. Although highly controversial when first proposed, it is now a cornerstone of modern medicine and clinical microbiology, leading to such important innovations as antibiotics and hygienic practices.^[1]

The ancient historical view was that disease was spontaneously generated instead of being created by microorganisms which grow by reproduction.[1] The Atharvaveda, a sacred text ofHinduism, is the first ancient text dealing with medicine. It identifies the causes of disease as living causative agents such as the yatudhānya, the kimīdi, the kṛimi and the durṇama. The atharvāns seek to kill them with a variety of drugs in order to counter the disease (see XIX.34.9). One of the earliest western references to this latter theory appears in On Agriculture by Marcus Terentius Varro (published in 36 BC), wherein there is a warning about locating a homestead in the proximity of swamps:

“

...and because there are bred certain minute creatures which cannot be seen by the eyes, which float in the air and enter the body through the mouth and nose and there cause serious diseases.[2]

”

In The Canon of Medicine (1020), Abū Alī ibn Sīnā (Avicenna) stated that bodily secretion is contaminated by foul foreign earthly bodies before being infected.^[3] He also discovered the contagious nature of tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, and introduced quarantine as a means of limiting the spread of contagious diseases.^[4]

When the Black Death bubonic plague reached al-Andalus in the 14th century, Ibn Khatima hypothesized that infectious diseases are caused by "minute bodies" which enter the human body and cause disease. Another 14th century Andalusian physician, Ibn al-Khatib, wrote a treatise called On the Plague, in which he stated:^[3]

"The existence of contagion is established by experience, investigation, the evidence of the senses and trustworthy reports. These facts constitute a sound argument. The fact of infection becomes clear to the investigator who notices how he who establishes contact with the afflicted gets the disease, whereas he who is not in contact remains safe, and how transmission is affected through garments, vessels and earrings."

Girolamo Fracastoro proposed in 1546 that epidemic diseases are caused by transferable seed-like entities that could transmit infection by direct or indirect contact or even without contact over long distances. The Italian Agostino Bassi is often credited with having stated the germ theory of disease for the first time, based on his observations on the lethal and epidemic muscardinedisease of silkworms. In 1835 he specifically blamed the deaths of the insects on a contagious, living agent, that was visible to the naked eye as powdery spore masses; this microscopic fungus was subsequently called Beauveria bassiana in his honor.

Microorganisms were first directly observed by Anton van Leeuwenhoek, who is considered the father of microbiology. Ignaz Semmelweis was a Hungarian obstetrician working at Vienna'sAllgemeines Krankenhaus in 1847, when he noticed the dramatically high incidence of death from puerperal fever among women who delivered at the hospital with the help of the doctors and medical students. Births attended by the midwives were relatively safe. Investigating further, Semmelweis made the connection between puerperal fever and examinations of delivering women by doctors, and further realized that these physicians had usually come directly from autopsies. Asserting that puerperal fever was a contagious disease and that matter from autopsies were implicated in its development, Semmelweis made doctors wash their hands with water and lime before examining pregnant women, thereby reducing mortality from childbirth to less than 2% at his hospital. Nevertheless, he and his theories were viciously attacked by most of the Viennese medical establishment.

John Snow contributed to the formation of the germ theory when he traced the source of the 1854 cholera outbreak in the central neighbourhood of Birmingham. The statistical analysis of the affected cases showed that the outbreak was not consistent with the miasma theory which was prevalent at the time. Contrary to the miasma model, he identified drinking water as the vessel for transmission of the disease. He found that cases occurred in the homes which obtained their water from the Broad Street pump, which was at the geographical center of the outbreak.

Italian physician Francesco Redi provided early evidence against spontaneous generation. He devised an experiment in 1668 where he used three jars. He placed a meat loaf in each of the three jars. He had one of the jars open, another one tightly sealed, and the last one covered with gauze. After a few days, he observed that the meat loaf in the open jar was covered by maggots, and the jar covered with gauze had maggots on the surface of the gauze. However, the tightly sealed jar had no maggots inside or outside it. He also noticed that the maggots were only found on surfaces that were accessible by flies. From this he concluded that spontaneous generation is not a plausible theory. Louis Pasteur further demonstrated between 1860 and 1864 that fermentationand the growth of microorganisms in nutrient broths did not proceed by spontaneous generation. He exposed freshly boiled broth to air in vessels that contained a filter to stop all particles passing through to the growth medium: and even with no filter at all, with air being admitted via a long tortuous tube that would not pass dust particles. Nothing grew in the broths, therefore the living organisms that grew in such broths came from outside, as spores on dust, rather than being generated within the broth.

Robert Koch was the first scientist to devise a series of proofs used to verify the germ theory of disease^[1]. Koch's Postulates were published in 1890, and derived from his work demonstrating that anthrax was caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. These postulates are still used today to help determine if a newly discovered disease is caused by a microorganism.

In the 1870's Joseph Lister was instrumental in developing practical applications of the germ theory of disease with respect to surgical techniques.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Madigan M, Martinko J (editors). (2005). Brock Biology of Microorganisms (11th ed. ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 0131443291.
^ Varro On Agriculture 1,xii Loeb
^ ^a ^b Ibrahim B. Syed, Ph.D. (2002). "Islamic Medicine: 1000 years ahead of its times", Journal of the Islamic Medical Association 2, p. 2-9.
^ David W. Tschanz, MSPH, PhD (August 2003). "Arab Roots of European Medicine", Heart Views 4 (2).

Germ Theory

Ben Chung — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:20:35 GMT

Revision 5 posted to Wiki by Ben Chung on 7/22/2009 2:20:35 PM

Germ Theory

The germ theory of disease, also called the pathogenic theory of medicine, is a theory that proposes that microorganisms are the cause of many diseases. Although highly controversial when first coined proposed, it is now a cornerstone of modern medicine and clinical microbiology, leading to such important innovations as antibiotics and hygienic practices.

The ancient historical view was that disease was spontaneously generated instead of being created by microorganisms which grow by reproduction.^[1] The Atharvaveda, a sacred text ofHinduism, is the French scientist Louis Pasteurfirst ancient text dealing with medicine. It identifies the causes of disease as living causative agents such as the yatudhānya, the kimīdi, the kṛimi and the durṇama. The atharvāns seek to kill them with a variety of drugs in order to counter the disease (see XIX.34.9). One of the earliest western references to this latter theory states appears in On Agriculture by Marcus Terentius Varro (published in 36 BC), wherein there is a warning about locating a homestead in the proximity of swamps:

“

...and because there are bred certain minute creatures which cannot be seen by the eyes, which float in the air and enter the body through the mouth and nose and there cause serious diseases.[2]

”

When the Black Death bubonic plague reached al-Andalus in the 14th century, Ibn Khatima hypothesized that infectious diseases are caused by small life-forms that invade "minute bodies" which enter the human body and have adverse effects on its growth, development or well-beingcause disease.

Germ theory Another 14th century Andalusian physician, Ibn al-Khatib, wrote a treatise called On the Plague, in which he stated:^[3]

"The existence of contagion is thought established by some experience, investigation, the evidence of the senses and trustworthy reports. These facts constitute a sound argument. The fact of infection becomes clear to be widely validated the investigator who notices how he who establishes contact with the afflicted gets the disease, whereas he who is not in contact remains safe, and might be one how transmission is affected through garments, vessels and earrings."

Girolamo Fracastoro proposed in 1546 that epidemic diseases are caused by transferable seed-like entities that could transmit infection by direct or indirect contact or even without contact over long distances. The Italian Agostino Bassi is often credited with having stated the germ theory of disease for the most important discoveries first time, based on his observations on the lethal and epidemic muscardinedisease of silkworms. In 1835 he specifically blamed the deaths of the insects on a contagious, living agent, that was visible to the naked eye as powdery spore masses; this microscopic fungus was subsequently called Beauveria bassiana in his honor.

Microorganisms were first directly observed by Anton van Leeuwenhoek, who is considered the father of microbiology. Ignaz Semmelweis was a Hungarian obstetrician working at Vienna'sAllgemeines Krankenhaus in 1847, when he noticed the dramatically high incidence of death from puerperal fever among women who delivered at the hospital with the help of the doctors and medical historystudents. Births attended by the midwives were relatively safe. Investigating further, though Semmelweis made the negative effects connection between puerperal fever and examinations of delivering women by doctors, and further realized that these physicians had usually come directly from autopsies. Asserting that puerperal fever was a contagious disease and that matter from autopsies were implicated in its by-products are starting development, Semmelweis made doctors wash their hands with water and lime before examining pregnant women, thereby reducing mortality from childbirth to be understoodless than 2% at his hospital. Germ Nevertheless, he and his theories were viciously attacked by most of the Viennese medical establishment.

John Snow contributed to the formation of the germ theory has led when he traced the source of the 1854 cholera outbreak in the central neighbourhood of Birmingham. The statistical analysis of the affected cases showed that the outbreak was not consistent with the miasma theory which was prevalent at the time. Contrary to two medical inovations the miasma model, he identified drinking water as the vessel for transmission of the disease. He found that have saved lives while poisoning children and breeding super germs: vaccines (cause cases occurred in the homes which obtained their water from the Broad Street pump, which was at the geographical center of autismthe outbreak.

Italian physician Francesco Redi provided early evidence against spontaneous generation. He devised an experiment in 1668 where he used three jars. He placed a meat loaf in each of the three jars. He had one of the jars open, canceranother one tightly sealed, and liberalism) the last one covered with gauze. After a few days, he observed that the meat loaf in the open jar was covered by maggots, and antibioticsthe jar covered with gauze had maggots on the surface of the gauze. However, which are pumped into every mass-farmed species the tightly sealed jar had no maggots inside or outside it. He also noticed that the maggots were only found on surfaces that were accessible by flies. From this he concluded that spontaneous generation is not a plausible theory. Louis Pasteur further demonstrated between 1860 and allowed 1864 that fermentationand the growth of microorganisms in nutrient broths did not proceed by spontaneous generation. He exposed freshly boiled broth to infiltrate air in vessels that contained a filter to stop all particles passing through to the water supply growth medium: and even with no filter at all, with air being admitted via a long tortuous tube that would not pass dust particles. Nothing grew in the broths, therefore the living organisms that grew in such broths came from outside, as spores on dust, rather than being generated within the broth.

Robert Koch was the first scientist to devise a series of proofs used to verify the point germ theory of disease^[1]. Koch's Postulates were published in 1890, and derived from his work demonstrating that super bugs anthrax was caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. These postulates are breeding even still used today to help determine if a newly discovered disease is caused by a microorganism.

In the 1870's Joseph Lister was instrumental in rivers near water treatment facilitiesdeveloping practical applications of the germ theory of disease with respect to surgical techniques.

Germ Theory

NatURal — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:58:19 GMT

Revision 4 posted to Wiki by NatURal on 7/22/2009 6:58:19 AM

Germ Theory

Germ Theory is a theory first coined by the French scientist Louis Pasteur. The theory states that infectious diseases are caused by small life-forms that invade the body and have adverse effects on its growth, development or well-being.

Germ theory has been is thought by some to be widely validated and is might be one of the most important discoveries of medical history. An understanding , though the negative effects of germ its by-products are starting to be understood. Germ theory has led to two medical inovations that have savedliterally millions of lives while poisoning children and breeding super germs: vaccines (cause of autism, cancer, and liberalism) and antibiotics, which are pumped into every mass-farmed species and allowed to infiltrate the water supply to the point that super bugs are breeding even in rivers near water treatment facilities.

Germ Theory

Arnold T Pants — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:23:15 GMT

Revision 3 posted to Wiki by Arnold T Pants on 7/21/2009 5:23:15 PM

Germ Theory

Filed under: germ theory scam lie Louis Pasteur

Germ theory has been widely validated and is one of the most important discoveries of medical history. An understanding of germ theory has led to two medical inovations that have saved literally millions of lives: vaccines and antibiotics.

Germ Theory

Arnold T Pants — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:03:06 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Wiki by Arnold T Pants on 7/21/2009 5:03:06 PM

Germ Theory

Filed under: germ theory scam lie Louis Pasteur

Although his motivations are murky, it seems that the

Germ theory was concocted to benefit the dairy industry in order to reassure the public that their milk was actually a safe product to drink. Notice that even with the addition has been widely validated and is one of hormones since the day most important discoveries of Pasteur, milk is still considered safe as long as the milk is "pasteurized."

The side effect medical history. An understanding of this germ theory is that people will avoid natural means of staying healthy, such as eating right and performing flushes of toxins, as long as they believe that their modern medicine is able has led to kill the tiny life-forms two medical inovations that have invaded their bodysaved literally millions of lives: vaccines and antibiotics.

Germ Theory

Jerry — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:14:28 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Wiki by Jerry on 7/21/2009 2:14:28 PM

Germ Theory is a theory first coined by the French scientist Louis Pasteur. The theory states that diseases are caused by small life-forms that invade the body and have adverse effects on its growth, development or well-being.

Although his motivations are murky, it seems that the theory was concocted to benefit the dairy industry in order to reassure the public that their milk was actually a safe product to drink. Notice that even with the addition of hormones since the day of Pasteur, milk is still considered safe as long as the milk is "pasteurized."

The side effect of this theory is that people will avoid natural means of staying healthy, such as eating right and performing flushes of toxins, as long as they believe that their modern medicine is able to kill the tiny life-forms that have invaded their body.