Humours, bad air, spontaneous generation as explanations for illness
Louis Pasteur
Developed Germ Theory, proved existence of germs in air and their role in disease
Robert Koch
Expanded Germ Theory, identified specific germs causing diseases like tuberculosis, cholera, and typhoid, pioneered Bacteriology
Emil von Behring
Discovered antibodies, revolutionized understanding of the immune system, Nobel Peace Prize in 1901
Paul Ehrlich
Student of Koch, developed Salvarsan 606, first drug to treat syphilis specifically targeting disease-causing germs, coined "magic bullet"
Impact of 19th Century Scientists
Pasteur, Koch, and Ehrlich's work established the importance of science in medicine, paved the way for modern medicine and the understanding of infectious diseases.
