1684 LEEUWENHOEK, Antonie van (1632 – 1723)

An abstract of a letter…Sep. 17, 1683. Containing some microscopical observations, about animals in the scurf of the teeth.

Records discovery of bacteria in the mouth, with the first illustrations of the basic types – what were much later called cocci (round or oval), bacilli (rod-shaped) and spiriillum (spiral) forms. Although Leeuwenhoek…

GMN 2464.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5444

1769 BANCROFT, Edward (1774 – 1821)

Essay on the natural history of Guiana, in South America. Containing a description of many curious productions in the animal and vegetable systems of that country. Together with an account of the religion, manners, and customs of several tribes of its Indian inhabitants. Interspersed with a variety of literary and medical observations. In several letters....

Bancroft was an English physician who lived for many years in South America. He noted the transmission of yaws by flies (p. 385 of his book). Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

GMN 5304 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/6554

1890 MILLER, Willoughby Dayton (1853 – 1907)

The micro-organisms of the human mouth.

In 1884 Miller became professor of dentistry at the University of Berlin, the first foreigner ever to receive a professorial appointment at a German University. Inspired by study of bacteriology under Robert Koch, Mil…

GMN 3687 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5696

1894 PLAUT, Hugo Karl (1858 – 1928)

Studien zur bacteriellen Diagnostik der Diphtherie und der Anginen.

“Plaut’s angina” (necrotizing ulcerative gingivostomatitis). He noted the association of fusiform bacilli in ulcerating lesions of the tonsils. Vincent (see No. 3309) gave the first comprehensive description of this c…

GMN 3308.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/4510

1896 VINCENT, Jean Hyacinthe (1862 – 1950)

Sur l’étiologie et sur les lésions anatomo-pathologiques de la pourriture d’hôpital.

Vincent described a fusiform bacillus and a spirillum which, in association, were responsible for hospital gangrene. Later, in Arch. int. Laryng., 1898, 11, 44-48, he showed these two organisms to be present in “Vince…

GMN 3309 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/4512

1920 WELCH, William Henry (1850 – 1934); BURKET, Walter Cleveland (1888 – 1974)

Papers and addresses by William Henry Welch. [Edited by Walter C. Burket]. 3 vols.

Vol. 1: Pathology and preventive medicine. Vol. 2: Bacteriology. Vol. 3: Medical education, history, miscellaneous subjects, and Welch's bibliography. Introduction by Simon Flexner. Digital facsimile from the Internet…

GMN 86.2 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/1444

1921 ROSENOW, Edward Carl (1875 – 1966)

Results of experimental studies on focal infection and elective localization.

Rosenow showed that focal infection could by caused by bacteria in teeth, etc.

GMN 2573 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3696

1922 FLEMING, Sir Alexander (1881 – 1955)

On a remarkable bacteriolytic element found in secretions and tissues.

Lysozyme, an antimicrobial enzyme that is a component of secretions such as tears and saliva. Digital facsimile from royalsocietypublishing.org at this link

GMN 1910.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/2667

1922 –1925 MCINTOSH, James (1882 – 1948); JAMES, W. Warwick (1874 – 1965); LAZARUS-BARLOW, Percy (1895 – 1967)

An investigation into the aetiology of dental caries. I: The nature of the destructive agent and the production of artificial caries. II" The biological characteristics and distribution of B. acidolphilus odontolyticus. III: Further experiments on the production of artificial caries. IV: Accessory factors in dental caries. (1) Reaction of the saliva (2) Acid resistance of teeth.(3) Bacteriotropic action of saliva.

Isolation of Lactobacillus odontolyticus I and II from carious teeth. Digital facsimile of part 1 from PubMedCentral at this link. Digital facsimile of part 4 from PubMedCentral at this link.

GMN 3691 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5725

1922 RODRÍQUEZ VARGAS, Fernando E. (1888 – 1932)

Studies in the specific study of the bacteriology of dental cavities.

Rodríguez discovered that three types of the Lactobacillus species of bacteria, during the process of fermentation, are the causes of cavities. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

GMN 12656 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/14900

1968 MATTHEWS, John D.; GLASSE, Robert M. (1930 – 1993); LINDENBAUM, Shirley

Kuru and cannibalism.

Medical anthropologists Lindenbaum and Glass demonstrated that Kuru was transmitted in New Guinea by cannibalism--particularly by eating the brains of infected victims, which were the reservoir of prions. Order of aut…

GMN 10841 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13037