Girolamo Fracastoro

Girolamo Fracastoro was an Italian scholar of the 16th century known for his work in medicine and natural philosophy. He is best recognized for proposing that diseases are caused by tiny, invisible particles that can be transmitted from person to person, an early concept of contagion. Fracastoro's ideas laid the groundwork for later developments in microbiology, influencing our understanding of how infections spread. Additionally, he contributed to the fields of astronomy and literature. Fracastoro's work highlighted the importance of observation and evidence in science, marking a shift towards a more systematic approach to studying health and illness.