The Strange Little Animals of Antony van Leeuwenhoek Surgical Revolution

Abstract

Antony van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723) created a surgical revolution by demonstrating, through a series of extraordinary discoveries, the presence of “strange little animals” under the microscope. His outstanding advances were directly related to his ability to grind better glasses, which enhanced magnification many times over previously manufactured glasses. His meticulous and dedicated observational skills were unmatched by anyone dealing with magnification at the time. The surgical revolution did not occur during Leeuwenhoek's time but more than a century later when the value of his findings was evidently recognized. Today Leeuwenhoek is considered the father of microscopy as well. It is particularly enlightening that for not being a scientist himself, he demonstrated all the good virtues of method and technique for which professional scientists are admired.

Keywords:

• Leeuwenhoek
• microscope
• little animals
• surgical revolution