From Mystery to Medicine A Multimedia Presentation By: Christina Cuevas California State University Northridge

Medicine Past and Present Early Medicine In the middle of the fourteenth century, and epidemic called the Black Plague swept across Europe, Asia, and Africa. It killed about 75 million people, wiping out more than a third of Europe’s population.

Discovering Germs Getting sick was always scary, not just during epidemics like the Black Plague. Death was never far away. People could fall ill and die at any moment. Getting sick was always scary, not just during epidemics like the Black Plague. Death was never far away. People could fall ill and die at any moment. For most of human history, people did not know what causes diseases. They could not see germs, so they didn’t realize that germs existed. For most of human history, people did not know what causes diseases. They could not see germs, so they didn’t realize that germs existed.

Making The Connection While Pasteur was doing his experiments, other scientists were discovering many different microbes. One kind of very small microbe, shaped like a rod or stick, was called bacterium, after the Greek word for stick. While Pasteur was doing his experiments, other scientists were discovering many different microbes. One kind of very small microbe, shaped like a rod or stick, was called bacterium, after the Greek word for stick. Pasteur injected healthy rabbits with this bacteria. The animals became sick and died, making the connection that, bacteria causes diseases. Pasteur injected healthy rabbits with this bacteria. The animals became sick and died, making the connection that, bacteria causes diseases.

Fighting Germs Pasteur’s work made people aware that bacteria, or germs, caused diseases and infections. Joseph Lister, a Scottish surgeon who was a friend of Pasteur’s, began to sterilize all his equipment before an operation to get rid of germs. He made sure that only clean gloves were used by his assistants. He desinfected wounds with carbolic acid to kill germs. Sure enough, his patients rarely died of infections, and other surgeons began to use his methods. Pasteur’s work made people aware that bacteria, or germs, caused diseases and infections. Joseph Lister, a Scottish surgeon who was a friend of Pasteur’s, began to sterilize all his equipment before an operation to get rid of germs. He made sure that only clean gloves were used by his assistants. He desinfected wounds with carbolic acid to kill germs. Sure enough, his patients rarely died of infections, and other surgeons began to use his methods.

First Antibiotic Although doctors could take steps to prevent germs on the outside of the body from spreading of infecting people, they had no way to kill the germs once they were inside the body. Although doctors could take steps to prevent germs on the outside of the body from spreading of infecting people, they had no way to kill the germs once they were inside the body. Quite by accident Alexander Fleming noticed that one of his lab experiments on bacteria was contaminated with mold. Instead of just throwing the ruined experiment away, Fleming studied it carefully. What he found was extraordinary. The mold destroyed the bacteria. The substance Fleming found was Penicillin, modern medicine’s first antibiotic. Quite by accident Alexander Fleming noticed that one of his lab experiments on bacteria was contaminated with mold. Instead of just throwing the ruined experiment away, Fleming studied it carefully. What he found was extraordinary. The mold destroyed the bacteria. The substance Fleming found was Penicillin, modern medicine’s first antibiotic.

Medical Researchers Since its discovery, Penicillin has saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Many infections that once killed people are now easily treated. Since its discovery, Penicillin has saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Many infections that once killed people are now easily treated. But there is a great deal that we don’t know. We still cannot cure many diseases. But there is a great deal that we don’t know. We still cannot cure many diseases. When someone gets cancer today, we are almost as mystified and helpless as people were about any diseases a few hundred years ago. When someone gets cancer today, we are almost as mystified and helpless as people were about any diseases a few hundred years ago. If you become a doctor or a medical researcher you may be one of the heroes, like Pateur, who have dispelled some of that fear. If you become a doctor or a medical researcher you may be one of the heroes, like Pateur, who have dispelled some of that fear.