24 March 1882 (announcement) / Europe
Koch reports the bacterium behind tuberculosis
Koch combined staining, culture and animal experiments to connect the tubercle bacillus with tuberculosis, advancing experimental investigation of infectious disease.
The story
In Berlin, Koch reported research linking a particular bacterium to tuberculosis. Specialized staining and culture methods made the proposed cause observable and testable. This was an announcement of a pathogen, not the arrival of a successful tuberculosis cure. Bacteriology developed through many researchers and techniques; identifying causes, developing treatments and improving living conditions were distinct processes.
Connections and context
Tracing symptoms to microbial causes connected laboratories with public health. A pathogen’s identification did not automatically provide a cure; prevention, medicines and social conditions still mattered.
Dates and precision
24 March 1882 (announcement) Documented date
Positioned by the documented year, month or day. Missing precision is not inferred.
Representative map location
Berlin
The marker represents Berlin, where Koch announced the findings in 1882.
Representative coordinates · 52.52°, 13.389°
A marker identifies one representative place, such as a manuscript collection, laboratory or observing site. It does not mean the work happened only there, or assign a shared discovery to one country.
Bibliography
- Robert Koch Institute: Robert Koch and the tuberculosis bacterium
- Robert Koch: historical account in German
- Historical overview of the Robert Koch Institute
References are listed as plain bibliography titles. They support particular facts or context; a reference does not certify every interpretation in a story.