Germ Theory of Disease: Proposed by Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch in the mid-19th century, germ theory established that microorganisms—not “bad air” or imbalances—cause infectious diseases. Pasteur’s experiments disproved spontaneous generation, while Koch’s postulates linked specific microbes to specific illnesses (e.g., anthrax, tuberculosis). This paradigm shift replaced centuries of medical dogma and laid the groundwork for antiseptics, sterilization, and public health measures. Joseph Lister applied germ theory to surgery, drastically reducing postoperative deaths. It also justified sanitation reforms in cities, clean water systems, and food pasteurization. Germ theory unified microbiology, epidemiology, and clinical practice, turning medicine into a science grounded in observable causality. Its legacy endures in infection control protocols, vaccine development, and global responses to pandemics—proving that understanding invisible agents could save countless visible lives.
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