#Dubai Today, March 21st, I celebrate my birthday. I rejoice in the Lord and Praise Him for all He has done for me. Glory to His Holy Name. I Bless His Holy Name.
Modern Medicine & Germ Theory
For centuries the Jews distinguished themselves in Medicine, a tradition reaching back to Talmudic times when rabbis were frequently acknowledged for their healing skills (Note 11). This trend developed during the medieval period in Europe, when Jews, excluded from practically all the learned professions, turned to Medicine as a means of livelihood (Note 12). As a result, the Jews have been esteemed for their medical skills. In this present time, it continues to occupy a distinguished position in the medical profession worldwide (Note 13).
The most spectacular medical advance of the 19th century was the conclusive demonstration that minute living organisms directly caused certain diseases and the infection of surgical wounds. This discovery changed the whole face of pathology (Note 14) and upshot a complete revolution in the practice of surgery. Another pioneer in bacteriology (Note 15) was German physician Robert Koch, who showed how bacteria could be cultivated, isolated, and examined in the laboratory.
Koch discovered the organisms of tuberculosis (Note 16) and cholera (Note 17) in 1882 and 1883, respectively. In the first half of the 20th century, emphasis continued to combat infection. The insights from cell biology altered basic concepts of the disease process in the years after world war 11. Discoveries in biochemistry and physiology opened the way for more precise diagnostic tests and more effective therapies. Spectacular advances in biomedical engineering enabled the physician and surgeon to probe into the structures and functions of the body by non-invasive imaging techniques such as ultrasound (sonar), computerized axial tomography (CAT), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (Note 18).
Modern Medicine discovered Antibiotics like Penicillin, Antituberculosis drugs, and other antibiotics. Also developed are the Antibacterial vaccinations: Typhoid, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Flu- virus, and several others. Over the past four decades, modern biochemistry uncovered the secrets of the cell. The knowledge of life at the molecular level has been stitched together from innumerable experiments in which proteins were purified, genes cloned, electron micrographs taken, cells cultured, structures determined, sequences compared, parameters varied, and controls done (Note 19). Some scholars refer to an intelligent designer, known in theism as God. This same God gave the Mosaic Laws to protect human beings from diseases.
There is denotative concordance in the diseased human states with revised cultures, environment, and ecology. Every cognitive process, including the conceptualization or generalization of perceived facts—such as diseased human states– entails an emotional aspect. Also, every evaluative process related to a fact, especially a social one, is based on cognitive-emotional processes (Note 20). In this regard, values are often understood as the criteria human beings consider selecting and justifying behavior, evaluating others and us, assessing events to make decisions (Note 21).
Not only the value of human life stands out, but the value of practical life, i.e., the concept of healthy human life (“health”), which has prevailed throughout entire human history (Note 22). With the progressive development of language, such states were descriptively denominated, first orally and then in writing. Analytic Philosophy of Religion emphasizes religious language. Since scientific and technological advances have allowed for differentiation in living organisms’ components (organs, cells, molecules), the terms to denote overall physical weakness or suffering states (disease and illness) would not be the most adequate anymore. Indeed, strictly speaking, proposing that both a cell and an organ experience a sick state is not the most appropriate. According to current knowledge related to neurocognitive processes and linguistics, all reviewed designations about “disease” would not be the most adequate to refer only to the human being global state (perceived as physical weakness or suffering). And not include other biological systems (organs and cells).
#Tomorrow on Series 4, I will discuss ‘The Mosaic Laws and Their Medical Benefits’