Pre-Antibiotic Treatments and Early Discoveries

Prior to the advent of antibiotics, various folk remedies with questionable efficacy were employed to treat infections. For example, people in Greece and Serbia used moldy bread, while Russian farmers relied on warm soil. Although some historical treatments demonstrated antibiotic properties upon modern testing, the scientific rationale behind these remedies was largely misunderstood. It wasn't until the late 19th century that a greater understanding of microorganisms and their role in disease began to emerge, paving the way for scientific exploration into germ theory.