‘There was rapid change in ideas about the causes of illness and disease in the period from
c1700 – c1900’ How far do you agree? [16 marks + 4 SPaG]
– Spontaneous generation
– Louis Pasteur – Germ Theory
– Robert Koch – work with microbes
There was rapid change in ideas about the causes of illness and disease in the period c.1700
– c.1900 due to the development of Spontaneous Generation Theory, Louis Pasteur’s
discovery of Germ Theory and Robert Koch’s work on microbes. Criteria? How would you
define ‘rapid’?
Spontaneous Generation was an alternate theory to the Theory of the Four Humours, which
had been completely discarded by the arrival of the 18th Century. This new theory suggested
that decaying matter turned into germs called microbes, which spread through miasmata.
Examples of this theory include, frogs coming from mud, and flies coming from decaying
meat. Although this theory was not scientifically correct, it caused a rapid change in ideas
about the causes of illness and disease as it replaced the incorrect and outdated Theory of
the Four Humours and led to more research and subsequent discoveries about microbes
and the process of decay.
Germ Theory, discovered by Louis Pasteur, proved the theory of miasma and Spontaneous
Generation wrong as he observed that microbes were the perpetrators of decay, not a
product. Pasteur’s Germ Theory caused rapid change in ideas about the causes of illness and
disease as it was essential to the later work of other scientists and doctors and changed
people’s understanding of illness. These changes assisted the 1875 Public Health Act to pass
and led to aseptic surgical conditions and the development of antiseptics as there was an
understanding about the relationship between bacteria and disease.
Robert Koch used Pasteur’s Germ Theory to identify particular bacteria which caused certain
disease. Koch discovered the bacteria that caused tuberculosis in 1882, caused cholera in
1883, and caused blood poisoning and septicaemia in 1878. He followed his work on cholera
up by proving it was spread in water supplies in 1884. Koch also developed the method of
using agar jelly to grow bacteria, and later a method for staining them with industrial dyes
during his research into tuberculosis. Koch caused rapid change in ideas about the causes of
illness and disease with his influence on other scientists with his title ‘father of
bacteriology’, which led to many subsequent developments as well as his own numerous
important discoveries.
Overall, there was rapid change in ideas about the causes of illness and disease between
c.1700 and c.1900 due to Spontaneous Generation, which replaced the outdated Theory of
the Four Humours; Louis Pasteur’s Germ Theory, which disproved the long-believed
miasmata theory and Spontaneous Generation. It influenced other scientists such as Koch,
who’s work on microbes led to many important discoveries about the causes of certain
illnesses and diseases, and also influenced many scientists, who would later develop
vaccinations using the bacteria identified by Koch. Therefore, there was rapid change in
ideas about the causes of illness and disease in the period c.1700 to c.1900.
c1700 – c1900’ How far do you agree? [16 marks + 4 SPaG]
– Spontaneous generation
– Louis Pasteur – Germ Theory
– Robert Koch – work with microbes
There was rapid change in ideas about the causes of illness and disease in the period c.1700
– c.1900 due to the development of Spontaneous Generation Theory, Louis Pasteur’s
discovery of Germ Theory and Robert Koch’s work on microbes. Criteria? How would you
define ‘rapid’?
Spontaneous Generation was an alternate theory to the Theory of the Four Humours, which
had been completely discarded by the arrival of the 18th Century. This new theory suggested
that decaying matter turned into germs called microbes, which spread through miasmata.
Examples of this theory include, frogs coming from mud, and flies coming from decaying
meat. Although this theory was not scientifically correct, it caused a rapid change in ideas
about the causes of illness and disease as it replaced the incorrect and outdated Theory of
the Four Humours and led to more research and subsequent discoveries about microbes
and the process of decay.
Germ Theory, discovered by Louis Pasteur, proved the theory of miasma and Spontaneous
Generation wrong as he observed that microbes were the perpetrators of decay, not a
product. Pasteur’s Germ Theory caused rapid change in ideas about the causes of illness and
disease as it was essential to the later work of other scientists and doctors and changed
people’s understanding of illness. These changes assisted the 1875 Public Health Act to pass
and led to aseptic surgical conditions and the development of antiseptics as there was an
understanding about the relationship between bacteria and disease.
Robert Koch used Pasteur’s Germ Theory to identify particular bacteria which caused certain
disease. Koch discovered the bacteria that caused tuberculosis in 1882, caused cholera in
1883, and caused blood poisoning and septicaemia in 1878. He followed his work on cholera
up by proving it was spread in water supplies in 1884. Koch also developed the method of
using agar jelly to grow bacteria, and later a method for staining them with industrial dyes
during his research into tuberculosis. Koch caused rapid change in ideas about the causes of
illness and disease with his influence on other scientists with his title ‘father of
bacteriology’, which led to many subsequent developments as well as his own numerous
important discoveries.
Overall, there was rapid change in ideas about the causes of illness and disease between
c.1700 and c.1900 due to Spontaneous Generation, which replaced the outdated Theory of
the Four Humours; Louis Pasteur’s Germ Theory, which disproved the long-believed
miasmata theory and Spontaneous Generation. It influenced other scientists such as Koch,
who’s work on microbes led to many important discoveries about the causes of certain
illnesses and diseases, and also influenced many scientists, who would later develop
vaccinations using the bacteria identified by Koch. Therefore, there was rapid change in
ideas about the causes of illness and disease in the period c.1700 to c.1900.
