[The bacteriological revolution and theories of the etiology of goiter and cretinism].

During the 19th century, a large number of researchers produced many different and even contradictory theories about the aetiology of endemic goiter and cretinism. The bacteriological revolution, i.e. the acceptance of the germ theory of infectious diseases, pushed scientists to try to isolate a germ for every disease. In the case of goiter and cretinism, this was fruitless endeavour. Nevertheless, the impact of the bacteriological revolution was largely positive because it provided a new scientific model of the genesis of disease and strengthened confidence in the possibility of fighting endemic as well as epidemic disease by simple but generally applied preventive measures such as, in the present case, iodine prophylaxis.