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Robert Koch may be considered the founder of medical bacteriology, and he was the driving force in the development of microbiology. Koch discovered the causes of tuberculosis and cholera and played a major role in the development of hygiene and public health. The techniques he developed, have served as major tools of research in the whole field of medicine. Koch's associates and followers, using his techniques, discovered the whole array of bacteria that were the major scourges of humans. These discoveries led directly to the development of vaccines and other immunological procedures, and (ultimately) to the discovery of antibiotics. Koch's major contributions were recognized by the award of the Nobel Prize in 1905.
List of contents
Contents: Introduction.- Koch's Early Years.- The Young Doctor and Husband.- Steps toward Maturity: Koch in Wollstein.- The Lone Scientist: The Work on Anthrax.- First Recognition: Koch and Cohn.- Koch's Role in the Microscope Revolution.- Studies on Wound Infections: The Later Wollstein Years.- On to Berlin.- Koch at the Crossroads: From Lone Doctor to Group Leader.- Simple Gifts: The Plate Technique.- Sterilization, Disinfection, and other Techniques.- The London Meeting: Koch, Lister, and Pasteur.- World Fame: The Discovery of the Tubercle Bacillus.- The World Traveler: To Egypt and India in Search of Cholera.- The Pasteur/Koch Controversy.- The Berlin Professor.- At the Center of a Storm: Koch's Work on Tuberculin.- Consolidation and Transition.- Africa Years: Robert Koch's Research in Tropical Medicine.- The World Tour: Koch in America and Japan.- An Assessment of Koch and His Work.- Chronology.- Bibliography of Koch's Writings.- Notes.- Index.
