Max von Pettenkofer - Life stations of a genius On the 100th anniversary of his death (February 9, 1901)

Max von Pettenkofer Award

“…From the perspectives of hygiene generally and indoor environmental quality and health specifically, it is regrettable that von Pettenkofer's scientific achievements have been obscured by his cholera‐associated infamy. Broad discussions of his achievements can be found in remembrances (Evans, ; Locher, ; Trout, ). Von Pettenkofer made several seminal contributions to the indoor air sciences before there was wide understanding that science could play any role in improving indoor environmental quality and health.…”

Indoor air: A short history of holistic and reductionistic approaches

“…The indoor air science community is familiar with both the research and community hygiene efforts of Max Joseph von Pettenkofer (1818‐1902). Among his many great achievements and contributions to the science, policy, and practice of hygiene, Pettenkofer first observed and demonstrated how carbon dioxide could be used as the main indicator of indoor air quality when determining the required ventilation rate in a building. Today, this indicator remains in use as industry standard practice.…”

“…Why would such a leading pioneer and thinker in the field of hygiene have missed the new era of the successful germ theory of disease? Locher summarized that “ Pettenkofer postulated the existence of a cholera germ that bred in the intestine and spread by means of human excrement, but that was not contagious. This germ, incapable of triggering an epidemic by itself, had to coincide with certain putrescent materials existing in the soil to produce a highly infectious agent that caused cholera.…”

“…The filth theory led to hygiene improvement efforts on all fronts in Europe and America and to a significant reduction in disease through various efforts, including those made by Pettenkofer. Locher summarized that, “ the measures Pettenkofer recommended to combat the epidemic not only drastically reduced the risk of cholera outbreaks, but also contributed to a substantial reduction of the morbidity rate for typhoid fever” …”

“…This latter approach may describe the attitude of Pettenkofer, who seemed to have preferred what is currently called a holistic approach. Pettenkofer believed that clean drinking water, pure air, good food, and a “good dwelling” were necessary for a “healthy, comfortable life.” According to Fang and Casadevall, “ reductionism may prevent scientists from recognizing important relationships between components or organisms in their natural settings ” . According to traditional Chinese wisdom, this concept is referred to as “ treating the head when the head aches, and treating the foot when the foot hurts ” (in Chinese, 頭痛醫頭、腳痛醫腳).…”