How much did people really know in 1848?

Even though it was then that Englishman Robert Hooke came up with the basic unit of life, cells, and the first to examine single-celled organisms closely was Leeuwenhoek, a lot was still unknown about bacteria at the time.

In 1848 the word infection was never used by doctors. However they knew if someone had an infection or not. They referred to it as a “septic” wound. However doctors didn't really know much about gangrene, fungus, viruses, streptococci, staphylococci, doctors were not cautious of bacteria laying everywhere, on their medical instruments, on their hands, or even in the air.

An open cut allows bacteria inside it if not treated correctly. Once bacteria is inside the body the body's immune system fights it and the bacteria fights back by releasing chemicals that are toxic to the body, this war between bacteria and the immune system is known as an infection.