Many germ theory deniers are adherents to what is known as terrain theory. The terrain theory was originally proposed in the 19th century France by Claude Bernard (1813 – 1878) which was and later built upon by Antoine Bechamp (1816-1908), rivals of Louis Pasteur (1822-1895). Bernard and Bécham tried to explain disease as being due to the failures of the internal environment or ‘terrain’. With a healthy terrain, the body can handle pathogenic germs and a weak terrain is the cause of disease. They further suggested that the body creates the germs or microbes when the body becomes unwell, rather than the assertions of germ theory that the microbes cause the disease.
Bacteria are considered just as scavengers to cleanse tissues and are a symptom of the disease. Viruses are considered as just cellular debris that cannot cause a disease or be transmitted from one person to another.
The COVID-19 pandemic renewed interest in terrain theory by those who have fringe beliefs and deny the science. No reputable scientist today supports terrain theory, and the scientific evidence is pretty clear in support of germ theory.
Commentary:
- No terrain theory believer has yet offered to come forward and drink a ‘cocktail of germs’ to prove that they do not cause disease
External Links:
Deep dive into stupid: Meet the growing group that rejects germ theory
Related Pages:
HIV Denialism | Koch’s Postulates
Denying AIDS: Conspiracy Theories, Pseudoscience, and Human Tragedy
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