History Unplugged Podcast

Microbes Were Discovered in the 1600s. Why It Take 200 Years For Doctors To Start Washing Their Hands?

10 snips
May 8, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Thomas Levenson, author of "So Very Small," uncovers the intriguing history of microbes and public health. He explains why it took over 200 years for the medical community to link germs to disease, despite their early discovery. Levenson highlights revolutionary figures like Edward Jenner and Florence Nightingale, whose innovations shifted public health from ignorance to action. He also touches on the antibiotic era, emphasizing the urgent need for responsible use as resistance grows, reminding us of the ongoing battle against infectious diseases.
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INSIGHT

Discovering Microbes Without Context

  • Antony van Leeuwenhoek first observed microbes in pond water in the 1670s but nobody connected them to disease then.
  • A lack of a persuasive disease theory made it impossible to interpret microbes' relevance for health earlier.
ANECDOTE

Leeuwenhoek’s Microbial Letters

  • Leeuwenhoek, a skilled cloth merchant, used superior microscopes to discover 'animacules' in water in 1676.
  • He shared 500 letters with the Royal Society revealing microbial life unseen before, sparking scientific curiosity but no health implications yet.
ANECDOTE

Cotton Mather’s Controversial Inoculation

  • Cotton Mather introduced smallpox inoculation in Boston using material from pustules to create mild infection.
  • Despite proven effectiveness, violent opposition limited adoption, costing many lives despite inoculation's success in Boston and London.
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