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Did you know how 19th century Germany used experiments to uncover the root causes of disease?
Germany in the 19th century was an important period of scientific revolution, and medical research entered a new field. Changes in various concepts and research methods, especially the intersection of pathology and physiology, have revealed the causes of many diseases. Against this backdrop, many scientists began to explore the root causes of disease through experiments and observations, ushering in a new era of disease mechanisms.
Pathology focuses on abnormalities in disease states, while pathophysiology attempts to explain the functional changes caused by disease.
In the early 19th century, German physiologist Johannes Müller advocated for the study of physiology independently of medicine, which made the study of physiology more scientific. Over time, this trend has led to a shift in focus toward cells, specifically the basic physiological unit in the human body. All these changes have paved the way for the scientific community to understand the root causes of disease.
Rudolf Virchow emphasized that pathophysiology should rely on clinical observation and experiment rather than just anatomical pathology.
In the process, Verhofer's influence extended to his student Julius Cohnheim, who pioneered experimental pathology and promoted the use of intravital microscopy, work that further deepened Understanding of pathophysiology. Interestingly, disease is no longer seen as just a negative state of the human body, but rather as the result of a series of complex biological processes.
In 1863, Casimir Davaine of France identified microorganisms as the key cause of the disease anthrax.
As scientists delve deeper into microorganisms, they are trying to uncover the forces behind disease formation. The "pathogen theory" proposed during this period led many scientists to begin to pay attention to how specific microorganisms interact with the human body and thus cause the occurrence of disease. In this regard, German scientist Robert Koch used advanced technology to deeply explore the nature of bacteria, and this research became the cornerstone of infectious diseases.
Koch's research showed that different diseases could be experimentally produced in animals by injecting putrefactive substances.
In 1878, Koch's book "The Etiology of Infectious Diseases of Traumatic Types" was an unprecedented research method at the time, showing how he used bacteriology and new staining methods to identify each specific microorganism. These results introduced scientific discussions on the causal relationship of diseases and gradually led the scientific community to accept the connection between microorganisms and diseases.
The United States became a center for pathology experiments with the founding of the scientific laboratory by American physician William Welch in 1878.
In the late 19th century, as medical teaching in the United States came under the influence of German scientific medicine, the country's healthcare system underwent a major overhaul. These scientific changes have led to advances in holistic medical education by moving beyond simply describing disease to viewing it as a complex biological mechanism.
The birth of biomedicine and the study of disease mechanisms have changed people's understanding of health.
Entering the 20th century, the rise of biomedicine made the study of disease mechanisms a new trend. Researchers use the latest technologies and methods to explore disease changes at the cellular and molecular levels. From discovering the pathogen that causes severe pneumonia to exploring treatments, scientists continue to conduct in-depth research on the root causes of a variety of diseases, including Parkinson's disease, heart failure and multiple sclerosis.
For example, research on Parkinson's disease has revealed a variety of possible mechanisms of neuronal death, providing new treatment ideas.
Through this series of studies, scientists have learned that many diseases are the result of the combined action of multiple mechanisms. Perhaps it is time to think again: when we face disease, should we focus on the specific causes, or should we turn our attention to these potential complex interactions? How much do you know about the root causes of disease?
