The Germ Theory and Tuberculosis

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the discovery of germs and more particularly Robert Koch's discovery of the tubercle bacillus and consequent germ theory changed the way in which the world viewed the white plague and its victims. It also looks at how the discovery of the germ theory and the tuberculosis prevention education campaign that evolved, changed the private and public lives of both the people living with tuberculosis and the lives of those around them.

From the Paper:

"With the isolation of tuberculin proving useless in the synthesis of any kind of vaccine or treatment, it remained imperative to avoid contracting the disease in any way possible. The Germ Theory explains the transmission of disease by way of microbes or bacilli that travel through the air on a person's breath or in bodily fluids, the most dangerous of which was saliva, with the common practice of spitting in the streets proving just as dangerous as kissing. The public were advised to avoid physical contact with any person infected with the tubercle bacillus, they were not to shake his hand, and mothers must take particular care not to let them kiss their children lest he infect them with the deadly consumption. "

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