Miasma theory of disease
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The '''miasmatic theory of disease''' held that [[disease]]s such as [[cholera]] or the [[Black Death]] were caused by a ''miasma'' (Greek language: "pollution"), a noxious form of "bad air". In general, this concept has been supplanted by the more scientifically founded [[germ theory of disease]].
[[Image:Cholera art.jpg|thumb|270px|A representation of the cholera epidemic of the nineteenth century depicts the spread of the disease in the form of poisonous air.]]
Miasma is considered to be a poisonous vapor or mist that is filled with particles from decomposed matter (miasmata) that could cause illnesses and is identifiable by its nasty, foul smell (which, of course, came from the decomposed material). A prominent supporter of the miasmatic theory was [[Abaris the Hyperborean]], who famously cleaned [[Sparta]] under Mount [[Taygetus]] from miasmata coming downhill.
The miasmatic theory of disease began in the [[Middle Ages]] and continued to the mid 1800s, when it was used to explain the spread of [[cholera]] in [[London]] and in [[Paris]], partly explaining [[Haussmann's renovation of Paris|Haussmann's latter renovation of the French capital]]. The disease was said to be preventable by cleansing and scouring of the body and items. [[William Farr|Dr. William Farr]], the assistant commissioner for the 1851 London census, was an important supporter of the miasma theory. He believed that cholera was transmitted by air, and that there was a deadly concentration of miasmata near the [[River Thames]]' banks. The wide acceptance of Miasma theory during the cholera outbreaks overshadowed the theory brought forth by [[John Snow (physician)|John Snow]] that cholera was spread through water. This slowed the response to the major outbreaks in the Soho district of London and other areas. Another proponent of the miasmatic theory was [[Crimean War]] nurse, [[Florence Nightingale]] (1820-1910),<ref>[http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow/1859map/cholera_prevailingtheories_a2.html BRIEF HISTORY DURING THE SNOW ERA (1813-58)] </ref><ref>[http://www.ibms.org/pdf/pdf_science/william_farr.pdf Who was William Farr?]</ref><ref>[http://www.scpub.org/data//files/revinfdischron-9694.pdf Development of the Germ Theory of
Disease]</ref> who became famous for her work in making hospitals sanitary and fresh-smelling.
==Sanitary Reforms==
The theory of miasma made sense to the English Sanitary reformers of the mid-nineteenth century. Miasma explained why [[cholera]] and other diseases were epidemic in places where the water was undrained and very foul-smelling. The theory led to improvements in the sanitation systems, which led to decreased episodes of [[cholera]], which helped to support the theory.
Even though the miasmatic theory has been disproven by the knowledge of [[virus]]es and [[bacteria]], it made the connection between dirtiness and diseases. This caused public health reforms and encouraged cleanliness, even though some doctors still did not wash their hands between patients. They believed that the miasmata were only airborne, and would not be stuck on the doctors' hands.
The miasmatic theory was consistent with the observations that:
* disease was associated with poor [[sanitation]] (and hence foul odours) and that sanitary improvements reduced disease, but not with the observations of [[microbiology]] that led to the [[germ theory of disease]].
==Cholera==
So far as cholera is concerned, the miasmatic theory was disproved by [[John Snow (physician)|John Snow]] following an epidemic in [[Soho]], central [[London]] in [[1854]]. Because of the miasmatic theory's predominance among Italian scientists, the 1854 discovery by [[Filippo Pacini]] of the bacillum that caused the disease was completely ignored, and the bacteria had to be rediscovered thirty years later by [[Robert Koch]].
A remnant of this theory is the name of [[malaria]], from Italian ''mala aria'' ("bad air").
==See also==
* [[Night air]]
* ''[[Polizeiwissenschaft]]'' ("Science of police")
==References==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow/1859map/cholera_prevailingtheories_a2.html Prevailing theories before the germ theory]
* [http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow/choleratheories.html Cholera theories]
* [http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=19304 Term definition]
[[Category:Obsolete medical theories]]
[[de:Miasma]]
[[es:Teoría miasmática de la enfermedad]]
[[ja:瘴気]]
[[ms:Teori penyakit Miasma]]
[[pl:Miazma homeopatyczna]]