From the pump to the helix

Abstract

The history of the evolution of bacteriology and microbiology is a long and complex subject. The nature of disease has long baffled mankind and in this respect the elucidation of the role of organisms has proved to be amongst the most challenging of areas. Initially there existed no medical concept of anything other than divine retribution or fate as a cause of disease. Subsequently the consideration of unpropitious omens, misalignment of the planets and stars, bad air, certain herbs and even contact with certain types of animals was deemed causative. The understanding that contact with diseased individuals could lead to disease was suggestive of an agent of transmission, but lack of evidence further propagated superstition and fear rather than rational analysis of the problem. The development of lenses allowed for the realization that there existed animalcules, but their relationship to disease remained unrecognized and unproven for some considerable time. The demonstration by Agostino Bassi (1773–1856) of transmissibility of disease in animal species was followed by the identification of specific classes of organisms and the evidence that they were related to a specific disease process. Nevertheless, much argument related to the source of bacteria and their mode of propagation. Indeed widespread belief in spontaneous generation and heterogenesis resulted in acrimonious controversy for many years. The precise roles of the numerous many individuals in the establishment of microbiology are too numerous to describe in this text but credit must be given to certain critical contributors. Girolamo Fracastoro (1478–1553) described disease and noted transmissibility, Antonj van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723) first noted the existence of microscopic animalcules, Agostino Bassi described transmission by organisms and Christian Ehrenberg (1795–1876) classified them with use of stains provided by Wilhelm von Gleichen (1717–1783). John Snow (1813–58), in his classic epidemiology study of the Broad Street pump cholera event, demonstrated the concept of contamination and disease spread. F. G. Jacob Henle (1809–85) introduced rigour into the study of bacteria and produced the postulates of disease that were later assumed by Robert Koch (1843–1910).