From Hippocrates to Louis Pasteur, the medical profession relied on mistaken ideas as to the cause of infectious illness. Bleeding, induced vomiting & mysterious nostrums remained staple remedies. Surgeons spread infection from patient to patient. Then came the germ revolution: after two decades doctors at last realized that infectious diseases are caused by microscopic organisms. The discovery of the germ led directly to safe surgery, large-scale vaccination programs, improvements in hygiene & sanitation, & the pasteurization of dairy products. It set the stage for the brilliant emergence of antibiotic medicine. Here is a gripping insight into 20 years in the history of medicine that profoundly changed the way we view disease. Illustrations.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.