The Diffusion of Germ Theory in the 19th Century - Essay Example

The Diffusion of Germ Theory in the 19th Century Outline Introduction: Introduction to the Germ Theory Various aspects of Germ Theory Definition of germ theory The invention of Microscopic instruments Terrible and fatal diseases Spontaneous Generation Vs Germ Theory Globalization of Germ Theory Review of Literature: Influence of Economic Globalisation in the Spread of Germ Theory Globalization in Communication and professionalism Globalization in the medical field Globalization of diseases Globalization due to International Organizations and Social Movement Germs and Diseases Contributions Made by Pasteur Contributions Made by Jenner on the Germ Theory The Contagion/Anti-Contagion Debate Conclusions : The Diffusion of Germ Theory in the 19th Century Outline Introduction: In this paper, the aspect of Germ Theory as one of the prominent theories in the field of medicine; proposing that microorganisms are the causal factors of certain diseases. would be considered. Perhaps this outline needs to consider the fact that this theory puts forward “that all contagious diseases are caused by microorganisms.” (Define Germ Theory, n.d). This has been proposed and proved in empirical studies in the western arena especially in North America and Europe in the 19th century. The implication of this theory in the medical field received wide significance because of its innovative approach towards diseases and treatment. Various aspects of Germ Theory: The various theories of diseases and its treatment until Germ Theory was developed focusing on the wide treatment approaches such as reducing the influence of the environment, keeping proper diet, climate etc. But Germ Theory proposed a amazing statement that the interactions with microorganisms would help us to get rid of certain diseases. “Germ Theory was developed in a social, cultural, and economic milieu increasingly centered on the values of mass production, mass consumption, standardization, and efficiency, all of which were compatible with Germ Theory science and popularization.” (Historical views of diseases and epidemics: Germ Theory, 2010). The important microbiologists in the history are Ignaz, Louis Pasteur, Robert Koch, Dmitri and Alexander Fleming. Definition of germ theory: This outline needs to consider that Germ theory can be defined by way of taking three statements together and they are “Germ theory states that a disease causing microorganism should be present in animals infected by disease and not in health animals. Germ theory states that a disease causing microorganism should be present in healthy animals and not in infected animals. Germ theory states that a disease causing microorganism should be destroyed. Germ theory states that a disease causing microorganism cannot be destroyed.” (Besty 2005, p.20). The way to a Germ Theory: There is a historical significance in developing the Germ theory. The entire world was affected by Black Death, plague and leprosy. There was no knowledge about the cause of the diseases. This kind of miseries in life make scientists think about cause of the disease and it resulted in the discovery of germ theory. The invention of Microscopic instruments: With the invention of microscope the scientists started to focus on the minute part of a thing. So also the physicians began to conduct researches to discover the root cause of the disease. Looking through microscope the physicians identified the smallest microorganisms which is the cause of certain diseases. Terrible and fatal diseases: The life of the people became very difficult with the sporadic nature of various diseases. Small pox, leprosy, tuberculosis, cholera, plague were the most dangerous disease in the human history. Since these types of diseases made the life of people vulnerable, it was the need of the time to identity the causal factors of the diseases. Spontaneous Generation Vs Germ Theory: Spontaneous generation is on the view that the disease is inflicted spontaneously. “Spontaneous generation is the idea that, in modern times, living things can arise from non-living things.” (Abedon 1998). But after the discovery of Germ Theory, the world has begun to realize that there is a living micro organism behind most of the diseases. The proposal of this theory made the physicians to concentrate the elimination of germs. They are the causative factors so that the disease could be eradicated. Globalization of Germ Theory: The proponents of globalization ensured that it would bring the entire world under an common platform by way of equal sharing of the modern technical advantages. The 19th century has witnessed a number of discoveries and innovations in every field. The discovery of Germ Theory was a leap in the field of medicine. Before this there was no deep and accurate understanding about the root cause of the disease. Various traditions had defined the causes in different ways and therefore there was no unanimous, scientific and comprehensive understanding about the diseases. Globalization in the medical field: This outline also needs to consider the global impact of Germ Theory, which made possible the change in the medical field, after advances in the medical field grounded in this theory. North America and European countries were the first countries that applied this theory. There was a drastic change in the treatment after the implication of Germ Theory and a number of new medical discoveries and innovations that were made underlining this theory. Then, trust and confidence of the people increased and other countries also started to practice Germ Theory in the medical field. Review of Literature : Influence of Economic Globalisation in the Spread of Germ Theory: Globalization changed the world pattern and because of this people could afford appropriate treatment in the world. Patients could now go anywhere in the world for medical treatment. People were given choices to choose the apt option for them. One of the changes brought by globalization in the field of medicine is the marketing of treatment. Any treatment can be received from the market. This type of world scenario helped the Germ Theory to diffuse everywhere in the world. This method of treatment brought sudden improvement and recovery from the disease since it identifies the causative germ and destroys it from the body. Most of the discoveries in medicine also revolved around this theory and it could gain trust of the people. Again this outline needs to consider that many subsequent medical theories were underpinned and bulwarked by this Germ Theory Globalization in Communication and professionalism: The next reason for the diffusion of the Germ Theory is the global platform of the professionalism. An international pattern of the implication of the Germ Theory was practiced throughout world. Students from every nuke and corner of the world came to the universities where it is taught. This helped to bring a unique and unanimous treatment pattern. Globalization of diseases: There is globalization of diseases especially in the case of communicable diseases. Pandemics become a global problems and the treatment for these diseases also meet globally. Therefore we can say the pandemics led the spread of germ theory. Globalization due to International Organizations and Social Movement: There are international health organizations such as world health organization and some other international non governmental organizations working for the health of the people throughout world. The unique approaches of such organizations in addressing issues related to diseases also helped to create a common platform for the implication of germ theory. Socio-Cultural Aspect of Globalization: One of the features of the globalization is the sudden spread of a theory and culture which is more useful for the people. Emergence of high tech communication system also helped to spread the important news within a second. The advanced communicating system played a role to spread germ theory. Germs and Diseases: Some of the diseases caused by germs are tuberculosis, diphtheria, cholera, leprosy, trachoma, plague and tetanus and the causative organism are bacterium. Other contagious diseases caused by virus are chicken pox, measles, mumps, rubella, influenza, polio, viral hepatitis, dengue and AIDS etc. Tuberculosis is caused by “mycobacterium tuberculosis” and diphtheria is caused by C. diphtheria. (Bunnyon 2007). The causal organism of cholera is “V. cholera” (Osei & Duker 2008) while “M. leprae” is of leprosy. (Mycobacterium leprae (leprosy), 2003). C. trachomatis causes trachoma and Y.pestis causes plague. Tetanus is inflicted by C.tetani. The determined causal virus of some of the contagious diseases is in the following. Chicken pox is inflicted by varicella zoster virus, measles is caused by myxovirus and mumps is due to mumps virus. Rubella is because of rubella virus and polio is inflicted by polio virus. This outline also needs to consider that micro-organism is the root cause of some; but not all, kinds of diseases. Another interesting aspect is that Germ Theory refutes the concept of spontaneous generation or the belief that living things could emanate from non living things. “A supposed process -- that has never actually been observed – in which living things arise from nonliving matter.” (Definitions of spontaneous generation on the web, n.d). The Germ Theory was first expounded in the year of 1862 by Louis Pasteur. “He explained that airborne dust carried the germs of yeasts and microorganisms present during the fermentation process. And even the most perishable liquids could be preserved if they were kept away from these germs. Through different innovative yet simple experiments involving grapes, fermentable solutions and swan-neck flask he clinched the spontaneous generation argument.” (Discovery of pasteurisation: 1862 to1877 (Pasteur as a biologist) spontaneous generation, 2010). The micro-organisms in the air are quite capable of contaminating open food and drinks. Even closed food could become rancid and attacked by micro-organism if left open and uncovered. Even covered food could be spoiled. The best way was by sealing the vessel to prevent entry of micro-organism. Contributions Made by Pasteur: This outline also needs to consider that “In his classic experiments, Pasteur first filled short-necked flasks with beef broth and boiled them. He left some opened to the air to cool and sealed others. The sealed flasks remained free of microorganisms, while the open flasks were contaminated within a few days. Pasteur next placed broth in flasks that had open-ended, long necks. After bending the necks of the flasks into S-shaped curves that bent downward, then swept sharply upward, he boiled the contents. Even months after cooling, the uncapped flasks remained uncontaminated. Pasteur explained that the S-shaped curve allowed air to pass into the flask; however, the curved neck trapped airborne microorganisms before they could contaminate the broth.” (Kusinitz 2010). Contributions Made by Jenner on the Germ Theory: This outline also needs to consider the contributions made by Jenner on the Germ Theory were with regard to the aspect of small pox disease. During those days, the use of vaccines against small pox derived from animals was considered improper and unclean. “Jenner noticed that milkmaids who contracted cowpox on their hands from touching the lesions on the udders of cows with the disease rarely got smallpox. He showed that inoculating people with cowpox can prevent smallpox.” (Kusinitz 2010). During that time, it was seen that many of these innovative ideas were not believed and Jenner had to face a lot of obstacles and acrimony to prove these theories. However, later on, these theories were proved correct. The Contagion/Anti-Contagion Debate: We need to explain in this outline that contagion/ anti-contagion debate was in full swing during the 1830’s or so and the main aspects was with regard to data collected from progress reports. Diseases such as cholera first appeared on a fixed monthly cycle, which was agreed by both the contagion and anti-contagion groups. However, the main dispute arose when contagions attributed the spread of the disease through personal contacts along established trade routes. Whereas anti-contagions believed that this was caused through transmission of disease through winds. The matter of contagion and anti-contagion makes interesting reading and analysis. The reasoning put forward is whether the worms are locally produced inside the body or are brought from another region. In most cases, it is believed that these are produced from inside the body itself, since “parasitic worms lived only in specific parts of the body.” (Farley 1989, p.52). Conclusions : Finally, the research needs also to consider the works of Robert Koch, Pasteur and Jenner, among others, have rendered maximum research data in the matter of Germ Theory, and more importantly, in controlling and eliminating threats in the medical fields due to micro-organism and other aspects. Thus, it is necessary that the research done by these eminent medical researchers are understood in its correct perspectives Landmark decisions. Besides, the subject is evolving over the years and it would hardly be appropriate or logical to apply 19th Century precepts during the 21st Century medical practices. “In the latter 19th century, the explosive growth of bacteriology transformed both the theory and the practice of medicine. This success, of course, depended on the advances made in other disciplines, yet in the popular mind the "Germ Theory of disease" became the symbol of progress in medical science. Today the word "germ" has no scientific standing. If used at all in lay speech, it refers to bacteria or other infectious agents that "cause" disease ….In the earlier 19th century, the meaning of "germ" was explicitly that of a seed out of which something will grow, and the connection of seeds and disease expanded gradually over a tortuous route.” (King 1983). Reference List Abedon, S. T., 1998. Germen theory of disease. [Online] Available: http://www.mansfield.ohio-state.edu/~sabedon/biol2007.htm [Accessed 1 July 2010]. Besty., 2005. Microbiology demystified. [Online] Tata Mc Graw-Hill, p.20. Available: http://books.google.co.in/books?id=WGpxmaMlrAEC&pg=PT43&dq=what+is+germ+theory&hl=en&ei=5JAtTM-mGZSxrAftudzzBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFYQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=what%20is%20germ%20theory&f=false [Accessed 2 July 2010]. Bunnyon, J., 2007. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 2007. [Online] Microbiology Bytes. Available: http://www.microbiologybytes.com/video/Mtuberculosis.html [Accessed 1 July 2010]. Define germ theory, n.d. [Online] Word Net. Available: http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=ml&rlz=1W1ADSA_en&defl=en&q=define:germ+theory&sa=X&ei=qTYrTOKSJouYrAfynKV1&ved=0CAYQkAE [Accessed 1 July 2010]. Definitions of spontaneous generation on the web, n.d. [Online] Google. Available: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:spontaneous+generation&sa=X&ei=aWIrTPz4M9CHkQWS4-yTBA&ved=0CBcQkAE [Accessed 1 July 2010]. Discovery of pasteurisation: 1862 to1877 (Pasteur as a biologist) spontaneous generation, 2010. [Online] Experiment Resources.Com. Available: http://www.experiment-resources.com/discovery-of-pasteurization.html#ixzz0sLrXOSbU [Accessed 1 July 2010]. Farley, J., 1989. The Milbank quarterly. [Online] Jostor, 67(1), p.52. Available: http://www.jstor.org.gate2.library.lse.ac.uk/stable/3350185?seq=3&Search=yes&term=germ&term=theory&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dgerm%2Btheory%26wc%3Don%26x%3D12%26y%3D11&item=9&ttl=17245&returnArticleService=showArticle&resultsServiceName=doBasicResultsFromArticle [Accessed 1 July 2010]. Historical views of diseases and epidemics: germ theory, 2010. [Online] Contagion. Available: http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/contagion/germtheory.html [Accessed 1 July 2010]. King, L. S., 1983. VIII germ theory and its influence. [Online] JAMA, 249(6), pp.794-798. Available: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/summary/249/6/794 [Accessed 1 July 2010]. Kusinitz, M., 2010. Germ theory. [Online] Science. Available: http://science.jrank.org/pages/3035/Germ-Theory.html#ixzz0sLtg0Yka [Accessed 1 July 2010]. Mycobacterium leprae (leprosy), 2003. [Online] Historique.Net. Available: http://microbes.historique.net/leprae.html [Accessed 1 July 2010]. Osei, F. B & Duker, A. A., 2008. Spatial dependency of v. cholera prevalence on open space refuse dumps in Kumasi, Ghana: a special statistical modelling. [Online] International Journal of Health Geographics. Available: http://www.ij-healthgeographics.com/content/7/1/62 [Accessed 1 July 2010]. Read More