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Short Communication Volume 13 Issue 3
Tuberculosis in the middle ages: epidemics, beliefs and treatments
Aurora Farfán Márquez
Received: November 11, 2025 | Published: December 16, 2025
Citation: Márquez AF. Tuberculosis in the middle ages: epidemics, beliefs and treatments. J Microbiol Exp. 2025;13(3):127-129. DOI: 10.15406/jmen.2025.13.00444
Abstract
This paper offers a historical overview of tuberculosis, from its earliest descriptions in antiquity to the scientific advances that gave rise to modern microbiology. It reviews the classical interpretations of Hippocrates, Aristotle, and Lucretius, who attributed the disease to hereditary, contagious, or humoral causes. During the Middle Ages, magico- religious explanations prevailed, such as the “King’s Touch” ritual for curing scrofula. With the development of the microscope in the 17th and 18th centuries, new scientific approaches emerged, notably the contributions of Leeuwenhoek and Hooke. The practice of inoculation and the creation of the smallpox vaccine by Edward Jenner marked a turning point in disease prevention. Finally, the work of Pasteur and Koch consolidated the germ theory of disease, enabling the identification of pathogens and the establishment of experimental methods that transformed the study and control of tuberculosis. This journey highlights the transition from empirical and ritual interpretations to a scientific understanding based on biology and experimentation.
Keywords: tuberculosis, age, average, infectious diseases, scrofula, inoculation
©2025 Márquez. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.