Germ theory in Britain
Opposition to germ theory
As French scientist Louis Pasteur鈥檚 germ theoryLouis Pasteur published this theory in 1861 to prove that bacteria caused disease. The theory was widely accepted by the 1880s. was so revolutionary, many people refused to believe it. High-profile doctors in Britain translated and promoted the work of Pasteur and Koch, while some others refused to accept and mocked the idea that germs cause disease.
Henry Bastian
Henry Bastian was an English surgeon. He did not believe in Pasteur鈥檚 germ theory. Bastian argued that germs came from spontaneous generation The theory, now proven to be incorrect, that living organisms could develop from non-living matter. so they appeared as a symptom of disease rather than a cause.
Bastian wrote several books and articles where he spoke out against germ theory.
Supporters of germ theory
John Tyndall
John Tyndall was an English scientist. He carried out an experiment where he placed items such as meat and fish in a wooden chamber that had sterileAn object or substance is sterile when all living organisms, either in it or on it, are destroyed. air in it. None of the items went off when he did this. When he put the items in non-sterile air, they went bad. This experiment helped Tyndall to prove that the idea of spontaneous generation was wrong. He had shown that microbeMicroscopically small organism, such as a bacterium or single-celled fungus. Also called a microorganism. in the air made things go off and caused disease.
Tyndall shared his findings with Pasteur and helped to persuade people that germ theory explained how disease was caused.
William Roberts
William Roberts was a Welsh physician. In the 1870s, he carried out a series of experiments to prove that the idea of spontaneous generation was wrong. Roberts also spoke out in favour of Lister鈥檚 carbolic spray. He argued that it protected people from becoming seriously ill from infected wounds following surgery, when wounds were exposed to germs in the air.
William Cheyne
William Cheyne was a Scottish surgeon who worked alongside Lister. Seeing the effectiveness of Lister鈥檚 carbolic acid showed Cheyne that preventing infection in surgery would save many lives. He also studied the work of Robert Koch and translated it into English. This was important in enabling Koch鈥檚 work to be widely shared and understood by doctors in England.
Cheyne went on to write books on the use of antisepticA substance that kills or stops the growth of germs which cause disease. in surgery. He also further promoted the work and research of Koch.