Disease Theory Before Germ Theory

About the lecture

In this module, we look at the ideas that existed about the causes and spread of infectious diseases before Germ Theory. We start by exploring the key questions that surround Germ Theory: (i) What was it? (ii) When was it developed? (iii) Who were the key figures in its development? (iv) Why was it important?. We then turn to examine what theories existed about the causes and spread of disease before Germ Theory to show that two ideas predominated: (i) Infection by contact (ii) Infection by environment. Louis Pasteur’s work, which was applied in Lister’s operating theatre, sought to tackle the fundamental issues which plagued these earlier theories.

About the lecturer

Michael Worboys is Emeritus Professor at the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine (CHSTM) at the University of Manchester. He has written widely on the subject of Germ Theory and the Bacteriological Revolution, including a number of notable articles and his book Rabies in Britain: Dogs, Disease and Culture, 1830–2000. He has also contributed to the BBC Radio Series 'In Our Time' on the subject of Louis Pasteur.