Robert Koch is called not only an outstanding researcher, but also a thunderstorm of microbes. The author of fundamental works has created invaluable techniques that are important for many of his followers.
It is difficult to overestimate the contribution made by the great scientist to the development of science. The biography of the researcher fully confirms the inquisitiveness of his mind from an early age.
Study time
Heinrich Hermann Robert Koch was born on December 11 in 1843 in the Lower Saxon resort town of Clausthal-Zellerfeld. Nowadays, his house has become a museum, one of the main attractions of the university campus. The boy's grandfather was an amateur naturalist. He instilled in his grandson a love of hobby.
Robert collected insects, mosses, knew how to disassemble and reassemble toys. The future genius studied without difficulty. Until the age of five, he mastered writing and reading. In the city gymnasium, Koch became the best student. In 1862 Robert, after successfully passing the exams, became a student at the Georg-August University in Göttingen. There were many famous scientists among his teachers.
For two months the future microbiologist was engaged in natural sciences, then he switched to medicine. Four years later, the talented student completed his education. For several years the graduate searched in vain for a city for private practice. In 1869 he decided to stay at Rackwitz. There, Robert began work in a psychiatric hospital.
It did not take long to work. With the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, the young doctor became a field doctor. Then he gained invaluable experience. During the war, there were constant outbreaks of infectious diseases. Even in difficult times, Koch continued to research microorganisms. He was no longer interested in medical practice.
After 1872, Robert was appointed district physician of Wolstein. Anthrax raged in the region. The scientist began researching a dangerous disease. He became the first to detect the pathogen bacterium. The microbiologist was able to study the life cycle of a microorganism. A scientific justification was given for the danger of burying those infected with the disease in the "mounds of death". The opening was announced at the University of Breslau. For the first time, it was told about new methods of research in microbiology.
Scientist works
In 1878, a work was published on the origin of wound staphylococcal infections with a detailed description of the bacteria. In 1880, the researcher was promoted to government adviser to the Imperial Department of Public Health. A year later, he published a work on methods for studying pathogenic organisms.
In his work, the scientist proved that the separation of microbes with the identification of pure cultures is more convenient to carry out on nutrient solid media, and not in broth, as was done earlier. Starting with cut potatoes, Koch then used gelatin, agar-agar and other samples to take his research to the next level.
The contribution to science was not limited to this. The scientist proposed a staining method for studying bacteria. Prior to this, microbes were considered colorless, with full coincidence in density with the environment, they were invisible. Aniline dyes impart color selectively and only to microbes. A new branch of microbiology has emerged.
By immersing the microscope objective in oil and using lenses with a larger curvature, Robert achieved an increase in the magnification of the device almost threefold. The Koch Triad was developed, postulates with evidence about the relationship between microorganisms and the diseases they cause.
Germany in the 1880s suffered from tuberculosis. There was little knowledge about the disease. The sick were recommended only fresh air and healthy food. The microbiologist began his experiments. He dyed fabrics, made crops. As a result, the scientist became the discoverer of Koch's wand. He proved that it is these microbes that cause the disease. The announcement of the opening was announced on March 24 in 1882 at the Berlin conference.
The scientist dealt with the problem of the disease until the end of his life. He discovered sterile tuberculin, which became an excellent diagnostic tool. For the work done, Robert was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1905. In 1882, information about the causative agent of acute conjunctivitis was also published. The bacterium is called the Koch-Weeks bacillus.
Family and Science
A year later, the scientist went to India and Egypt, suffering from a cholera epidemic. He started looking for the pathogen and found Vibrio cholerae. In 1889, the causative agent of tetanus was identified.
The forty-one-year-old microbiologist became a professor at the University of Berlin, director of the new Institute for Hygiene. In 1891, the microbiologist was appointed head of the Institute of Infectious Diseases, which later received the name of the scientist.
Since 1896 Koch went on scientific expeditions. In 1904 he left the post of director to study the information received. Until 1907, he was engaged in research on the most dangerous microbes. In 1909, the last salary on tuberculosis was read. In 1910, on May 27, the scientist passed away.
Koch was known as a rather suspicious and closed person. However, he was familiar to those close to him as a kind and sensitive genius who adored the game of chess. Emma Adelfina Josephine Fraz became his first wife in 1867. A child appeared in the family, daughter Gertrude. On the twenty-eighth birthday of her husband, his wife presented him with a microscope.
After parting in 1893, the actress Hedwig Freiburg became the chosen one of Robert. There were no children in the union.
In 1907, during the life of the famous scientist, the Robert Koch Foundation was established in Berlin. He has awarded prestigious international awards in the field of microbiology, the prize with a gold medal. Also, the laureates were honored with very solid monetary grants.
Subsequently, some of the prize winners were awarded Nobel prizes.
