霍乱、肺结核等疾病给人类健康带来了极大的损害。Robert Koch的研究成果为战胜这些疾病取得了重大突破。
Cholera and tuberculosis(肺结核) were two of the most dangerous killer diseases in the late 19th century.A man，named Robert Koch，made a breakthrough in the fight against these diseases.
Who was Robert Koch?
Koch was a German scientist, born in Hanover in 1843.Koch began research into the microbes(细菌)affecting diseased animals and people in 1872.He won the Nobel Prize in 1905 for his work on tuberculosis.
What made him famous?
In 1878 Koch discovered that microbes caused wounds to go infected，but his big breakthrough came when he decided to stain(给……着色) microbes with dye(染料)，enabling him to photograph them under a microscope.
Using this method he was able to study them more effectively and prove that every disease was caused by different germs.He identified the microbes that caused tuberculosis in 1882 and cholera in 1883.
How did he do this?
Koch's discoveries were the result of careful research using the microscope，photography and dyes.As a result of his work，the German government also set up an “Institute of Infectious Diseases” in Berlin in 1891 for medical research and development. In the 20th century medical research has increasingly involved teams of researchers supported by large public or private funds.
Results of his research
The scientific evidence of microbes helped other scientists prove that pollution spread disease.It meant certain kinds of action could be taken to prevent certain types of disease.Since cholera was carried in water, for example, its spread could be prevented with clean water supplies.
Longterm importance
Koch was responsible for establishing the new “Science of Modern Bacteriology”. Other scientists would continue to improve our knowledge of disease and germs by using his methods.By 1900 he and his students had identified 21 germs causing diseases.
[阅读障碍词]
1．breakthrough n． 突破；突破性进展
2．microscope n. 显微镜
3．germ n. 细菌
4．involve vt. 包含；牵涉
5．establish vt. 建立；创办
