[The importance of Robert Koch's discovery for the development of bacteriology]

On March 24th, 1882 Robert Koch reported to the Physiological Society of Berlin the discovery of microbes causing tuberculosis. Simultaneously he expressed his views on the pathogenesis of this nation-wide disease. With his work he contributed decisively to the development of a theory on infectious process. The results of his investigations on cholera and typhoid fever greatly stimulated the development of the epidemiology of contagious diseases.