Archival Anecdotes: A look into the beyond

It was Galileo Gailei who perfected the first microscope. That was in 1609.

Many years passed as scientists made improvements and modifications before the microscope offered one of the greatest breakthroughs of the 19th century.

In the 1860s, Louis Pasteur pioneered the germ theory, which still predominates modern medicine today. The theory suggests that microorganisms (too small to be seen without the aid of a microscope) can afflict human health with disease.

Prior to this discovery, it was commonly believed that a person fell ill as a punishment for their behavior or as the result of witchcraft.

Not only did the germ theory lead to a greater understanding of human health and contribute to longevity, but it also spurred scientists to study bacteria and eventually discover viral organisms.

In 1875, German physician Robert Kock pinpoint- ed the cause of anthrax in livestock and identified the organism responsible for tuberculosis. This was the first time that it was proved that bacteria can cause diseases.

It was only once people understood that microbes posed a risk to human health that public health measures could be taken.

Thanks to the microscope, we have the ability to identify sources of contamination, provide life-saving vaccines, and implement behaviors (like hand-washing) that can help reduce the spread of disease.