| Date | 1892 |
| Author | Pettenkofer |
| Contribution | Swallowed cholera bacteria in attempt to show that it was not a sufficient cause of disease. |
| Reference | Magner |
| Notes | Max von Pettenkofer, pioneer in public health. In swallowing a culture of the bacteria (vibrios reported by Koch as the agent of cholera) Pettenkofer was not denying that the microbes played a role in the causation of cholera. Rather, he was trying to demonstrate that, in the absence of other (soil-related) factors, the bacteria would not cause the disease. Pettenkofer did not acquire cholera, and concluded that his position was thereby supported. Similar self-inoculations were later made by others, but were abandoned when their danger became apparent. |
| Category | Causation |
| Pathogen Class | Bacteria |
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