Microbial Control in Ancient Times

Prepared by: Reo Paolo M. Uri

                 No one knows for sure when humans first applied methods that could control microorganisms, but perhaps the discovery and use of fire in prehistoric times were the starting points. We do know that records describing simple measures to control decay and disease appear from civilizations that existed several thousands years ago. We know, too, that these ancient people had no concept that germs caused disease, but they did have a mixture of religious beliefs; skills in observing natural phenomena; and, possibly, a bit of luck. This combination led them to carry out simple and sometimes rather hazardous measures that contributed to the control of microorganisms.

                 Salting, smoking, pickling, and drying foods and exposing food, clothing, and bedding to sunlight were prevalent practices among early civilizations. The egyptians showed suprising sophistication and understanding of decomposition by embalming the bodies of their dead with strong salts and pungent oils. They introduced filtration of wine and water as well. The greek and romans burned clothing and corpses during epidemics, and they stored water in copper and silver container. The armies of Alexander the great reportedly boiled their drinking water and buried their wastes. Burning sulfur to fumigate house and applying sulfur as a skin ointment also date approximately from this era.

                 During the great plague pandemic of the middle ages, it was commonplace to bury corpses in mass graves burn the clothing of plague victims, and ignite aromatic woods in the house of the sick in the belief that fumes would combat the disease. In a desperate search in some sort of protection, survivors wore paculiar garments and anointed their bodies with herbs, strong perfume, and vinegar. The children's rhyme "Ring-a-round a rosie" actually refers to many of the rituals related to the plague, such as filling the pockets of the victims with flowers ("pockets full of posies...") and burning the dead so as to reduce the spread of the disease ("Ashes! Ashes! we all fall down"). These attempts may gourd foolish and antiquated, but it now appears that they may have some benefits. Burning wood releases formaldehyde, which could have acted as a disinfectant; herbs, perfume, and vinegar contain mild antimicrobial substances, Each of these early methods, although somewhat crude, laid the foundations rof microbial controls methods that are still in the body.

               Give some modern technique that are equivalent to these early technique described here.

               Answer available at http//:www.mhhe.com/talaro7.

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