MEDICAL BACTERIOLOGY 



PART I 



CHAPTER I 



The first intimation that disease might be due to minute organisms was given 

 by Kircher, a member of the Society of Jesus, in 1646. He reported the pres- 

 ence of "minute living worms" in putrid meat, attributed the putrefaction to 

 their activity and suggested that disease might be due to similar organisms. 



Twenty-five years later he reached the conclusion that puerperal fever was 

 caused by animalculae (bacteria). In 1658 Hook made similar observations 

 and confirmed Kircher's work. 



Leeuwenhoek, a linen draper, who entered his trade in childhood and lacked 

 schooling, studied lens making, devised lenses much superior to any previously 

 made, and so opened up vast possibilities. With his improved instruments, he 

 observed animalculae in saliva, feces and vegetable infusions. His observations 

 were reported in 1660. 



At that time the discoveries of these men excited some interest, but it was 

 not general and advancement lagged for more than a half a century. Then in 

 1762 Plenciz confirmed the observations of Kircher and Leeuwenhoek and 

 assumed a relationship between animalcules and disease in general. 



Spallanzani, in 1777, demonstrated that boiling and hermetically sealing 

 infusions prevented fermentation. 



Microscopic observations were becoming more scientific and in 1786 Muller 

 divided animalculae into two classes monas and vibrio. 



At the close of the eighteenth century (1798) another great advance was 

 made when Jenner discovered the method of immunizing against small pox, 

 a method that is still in vogue. 



In 1835 Bassi reported certain diseases of silkworms due to the activity of 

 fungi. In 1840 Henle postulated that which is commonly referred to as " Koch's 

 Law:" 



I. A specific microorganism must be constantly associated with the disease. 



II. It must be isolated and studied apart from the disease. 



III. When introduced into healthy animals it must prqduce the disease, 

 and in the animal in which the disease has been produced experimentally, the 

 organisms must be found under the original conditions. 



Semmelweiss, of Vienna, a brilliant martyr, sacrificed by the bigotry of his 

 profession, in 1847 reached the conclusion that the cause of puerperal fever was 



