Myths of disease
Were the diseases the work of the devil?
In ancient times people were sure that diseases were the work of the devil, sorcerers or other evil beings. But Hippocrates, a Greek physician of antiquity (460 and 370 B.C.), was the first to clarify that the origin of these was earthly and not supernatural as was thought and introduced the idea of ''humors''.
The concept of Hippocrates continued to be believed for hundreds of years, even when Anton van Leeuwehoek first discovered microbes in the 17th century. Since then, another 200 years had to pass until the works of Louis Pasteur and other scientists led to the theory of germs as causal agents of infectious diseases.
Now most of us know that infectious diseases are due to various types of microorganisms: bacteria, viruses and fungi that invade our bodies.
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Were the diseases the work of the devil?
In ancient times people were sure that diseases were the work of the devil, sorcerers or other evil beings. But Hippocrates, a Greek physician of antiquity (460 and 370 B.C.), was the first to clarify that the origin of these was earthly and not supernatural as was thought and introduced the idea of ''humors''.
The concept of Hippocrates continued to be believed for hundreds of years, even when Anton van Leeuwehoek first discovered microbes in the 17th century. Since then, another 200 years had to pass until the works of Louis Pasteur and other scientists led to the theory of germs as causal agents of infectious diseases.
Now most of us know that infectious diseases are due to various types of microorganisms: bacteria, viruses and fungi that invade our bodies.
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