The history of Microbiology

1. The history of Microbiology • The development of microbiology has been due to the true scientific curiosity and energy of great men. • The history of Microbiology is a story of evolution of knowledge concerning the cause of disease.

2. Early theories of the cause of disease • The life of early man was governed by superstition. • It is not surprising that such an affliction as disease followed by death was attributed to the wrath of divine spirits for the punishment of individual sins, this is known as Theurgical theory of disease. • This belief was replaced by Miasmatic theory of disease which taught that all disease was due to the emanations from the earth, the influence of stars, the moon, the winds ,the water, the seasons.

3. This explanation of the cause of disease was enhanced by the teachings of Hippocrates (460-370 B.C.) who is commonly given the credit of being the originator of the theory. • On Air ,water, and Places, Hippocrates stress the relation of disease to different waters, direction of winds and slope of lands. • He did free medicine from superstition and his clear method of analysis of cases of disease , make him worthy of great honor accorded him in his title *The Father of Medicine*

4. Pore theory was supported by Asclepiades (124 B.C.), Themison (143- 23 B.C.) and the Thessalus (60 A.D.), each of these men based his conception on the function of pores. • Galan(120-200 A.D.) classify the temperaments of people as: sanguine , phlegmatic, bilious or melancholic. • The teachings of Hippocrates and Galan were accepted during the medieval period (1096-1438). • Most scientific investigation and teachings were dominated by the rise of Christianity and its power in the state.

5. The influence of Microscope • A. Kricher ( 1602-1680) was used microscope of about 32 power magnification with which he saw (worms) in the blood of plague patients. • The first compound microscope is believed to have been made in Holland by Cornelius Drebbel, Hans and Z. Janssen at about 1590-1610. • Galileo, in 1609 is also credited with being one of the first to place series of lenses to produce higher magnification.

6. Toward the end of seventeenth century , two English men Robert Hooke and N. Grew used a microscope in the study of natural objects and structure of plants. • An Italian Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694)who is founder of histology , who used microscope in order to see the detailed structures of the lung which he described in 1661.

7. The manufacture and use of microscope of higher magnifying power than any formerly used is Credited to Antony van leeuwenhoek, Holland who lived during the period 1632-1723, consider father of Bacteriology. • He had seen bacteria in various shapes and sizes of various substances. • Joseph Jackson Lister developed important detailed principles of modern microscope in 1830.

8. Spontaneous generation • The origin of maggots from decaying flesh and rats from filthy clothing are examples of early beliefs. • Francisco Redi (1626-97) was one of the first to show that maggots did not develop in meat when covered with fine gauze. • Louis Goblot(1647-1723) demonstrated in 1711 that heated infusions were not able toproduce animalcules wheras cold infusions soon teemed with living things.

9. Louis Pasteur in a series of experiments the results of which were published in1860 , he demonstrated that the dust in the air was laden with microbes, and was it prevented from entering flasks containing infusions, the infusions remain sterile. • Joseph Lister (1827-1912) a Scottish surgeon, found that infection following surgery was prevented by application of dressing containing some materials (carbolic acid)capable of destroying the life of floating particles.

10. John Tyndall 1877 demonstrated that infusions were made absolutely sterile by repeated heating , allowing intervalsfor the development of spores , thereby orginating the method fractional (intermittent ) sterilization (Tyndallization) which is used ocasionally in the laboratory today.

11. Germ theory • An Italian Layman, AgostinoBassi, discovered in 1835 that adisease of silk worm known by Italians calcino and by French muscardine was caused by fungus. • The discovery of the fungus of silk worms by Bassi opened the way for the discovery of numerous fungus disease of human and animals. • In 1849 John Snow observed epidemic cholera was water –borne , this added proof to the germ theory. • Pasteur added material to the formulation of the Germ theory by his discovery in 1870 that pebrineadisease of silk worm was caused by protozoan.

12. Classification of Bacteriology Bacteriology : may be divided into the following: General Bacteriology ,Systemic Bacteriology, Industrial Bacteriology, Agricultural Bacteriology, Dairy Bacteriology , Sanitary bacteriology and Medical Bacteriology.

13. General Bacteriology: is the study of the general characteristics of all bacteria. • Systemic Bacteriology: embraces the classification and nomenclature of bacteria. • Industrial Bacteriology: includes all the procedures which involve the action of bacteria in the various industries, such as manufacturing of alcohols , organic acid, vinegar , curing of tobacco, tanning of leather , manufacturing of antibiotics , etc…

14. Agricultural Bacteriology : is the study of any of the forms of bacteria relating to agriculture and may be divided into soil Bacteriology: and plant Bacteriology: • Soil Bacteriology: embraces the study bacteria which are found in the soil which are value in the maintaining fertility. • Plant Bacteriology: the study of bacteria which are found in theplant and an important part of plant pathology.

15. Food Bacteriology: includes the various processes which are used in the preparation of foods in the canning industry, those procedures which prevent spoilage of foods.