title: Edwin Klebs's Grundversuche.
abstract: In 1876, discussions of the role of microorganisms in disease causation focused on anthrax and wound infections, and even in respect to these diseases there was controversy. In a series of papers on the pathologicality of bacteria, Edwin Klebs identified four "Grundversuche" (fundamental tests) that provided a basis for his own research strategy. The Grundversuche can be read as the following hypotheses: first, all bacteria are pathological; second, bacteria never occur spontaneously; third, every disease is caused only by bacteria; and fourth, the bacteria that cause distinguishable disease are distinguishable. Although some of these hypotheses are literally false, together they constitute part of a rational basis for a bacterial theory of disease, and, as such, they mark a true revolution in etiological thought.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000266:history; D001432:Bacteriology / Q000266:history*; D015984:Causality; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans