Abstract
This chapter presents details of historical surveys related to origins and biochemical aspects of bacteria. It has been long recognized that disease might be communicated from one individual to another; there are many references in the works of the earlier writers to indicate this, particularly in connection with plague and smallpox, both of which frequently appeared in epidemic form during the Middle Ages. A short time afterward the existence of minute living bodies was definitely established. Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch draper whose hobby was the preparation of lenses, introduced the simple microscope during the last quarter of the 17th century. An Austrian, Plenciz, put forward the germ theory of disease in 1762 when, as a result of experimental work of doubtful value, he concluded that each disease had its own specific agent that multiplied in the body and so produced disease. After Leeuwenhoek had described the peculiar minute bodies, or animalcules, their presence in various situations was confirmed without difficulty. The adherents of the theory of spontaneous generation believed that by an investigation of the animalcule's proof of this theory could be definitely established.
Published Version
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