Med Ges Gesch. 1995 ; 13(): 35-54.

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Gradmann C.

Institut für Geschichte der Medizin, Universität Heidelberg.

The text analyses Koch's microbiology and its rapid success within the context of the intellectual history of Wilhelminian [1888-1918] Germany. Studies of visual and verbal popularisations of microbiology show that scientific theory of microbiology, by communicating in the political language of its age, was followed by an equally specific popular image of the same topic. This included both popularisations of microbiology in militaristic metaphors and the analogous use of microbiological concepts as popularisations of imperialistic and agressive concepts of politics. Thus, the development and success of microbiology is linked to the development of the political language of its age.