germ theory
Microbes cause disease
Germ theory is the now-established principle that many diseases are caused by microorganisms—bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens—rather than by miasmas, imbalanced humors, or divine punishment.
The theory revolutionized medicine in the nineteenth century, leading to antiseptic surgery, pasteurization, and vaccines.
Germ theory transformed hospitals from death traps into places of healing.
- Koch's postulatesCriteria linking pathogen to disease
- vaccinationAdministered immunity booster
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- antibioticsBacteria-destroying medicines
- antisepticsAgents preventing microbial growth
Louis Pasteur · Joseph Lister · hygiene · wash your hands · hand sanitizer · pathogens · epidemiology · contagion · viruses · John Snow · public health · disease prevention · sterilization · sanitation · food safety · fungi · disease transmission · spread of disease
- Medical Advancespenicillin, vaccine, X-ray, insulin pump, pacemaker
- public healthdisease prevention, immunization, disease control, health education, epidemiology
- scientific progressinventions, scientific expeditions, natural history, geology, botany
- Biology HistoryDarwin, Mendel, evolution, natural selection, genetics
- microbiologybacteria, bacterium, microbe, microbes, microorganisms
- Science Historyscientific revolution, natural philosophy, scientific method, scientific journals, Royal Society
germ theoryfour humors
Classical medical fluid theory
miasma · spontaneous generation · vitalism · demonic possession · curse
germ theorypseudoscience
Bogus methodology posing as factual
folk medicine · superstition · quackery · alternative medicine · magical thinking