The miasmatic theory of disease held that diseases 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. The term disease refers to an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs function. ... Cholera (or Asiatic cholera or epidemic cholera) is a severe diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. ... It has been suggested that Plague doctor be merged into this article or section. ... The germ theory of disease, also called the pathogenic theory of medicine, is a theory that proposes that microorganisms are the cause of many diseases. ...

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. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Abaris the Hyperborean was a legendary or semi-legendary sage, healer and priest known to the ancient Greeks. ... Sparta (Doric: Spártā, Attic: Spártē) is a city in southern Greece. ... Taygetus or Taygetos (Greek: Ταΰγετος), also Taigetos is a mountain range of the Peloponnesus, Southern Greece, extending about 65 mi (100 km) north from the southern end of Cape Matapan in the Mani Peninsula. ...

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 latter renovation of the French capital. The disease was said to be preventable by cleansing and scouring of the body and items. 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 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), who was made famous for her work in making hospitals sanitary and fresh-smelling. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Cholera (or Asiatic cholera or epidemic cholera) is a severe diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) The Eiffel Tower in Paris, as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ... Boulevard Haussmann The Haussmann Renovations, or Haussmannization of Paris was a work led under the initiative of Napoléon III and the Seine préfet, Haussmann, from 1852 to 1870. ... William Farr in 1870 William Farr (November 30, 1807 - April 14, 1883) was a nineteenth century British epidemiologist, regarded as one of the founders of medical statistics. ... The Thames is a river flowing through southern England, and one of the major waterways in England. ... There have been several people named John Snow: Dr. John Snow (physician), the founder of epidemiology and a major contributor to the development of anaesthesia John W. Snow, current United States Secretary of the Treasury John Snow (cricketer), English cricketer See also Jon Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire... Combatants Allies: Second French Empire British Empire Ottoman Empire Kingdom of Sardinia Russian Empire Bulgarian volunteers Casualties 90,000 French 35,000 Turkish 17,500 British 2,194 Sardinian killed, wounded and died of disease ~134,000 killed, wounded and died of disease The Crimean War (1853–1856) was fought... Embley Park, now a school, was the family home of Florence Nightingale. ...

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. Cholera (or Asiatic cholera or epidemic cholera) is a severe diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. ... Cholera (or Asiatic cholera or epidemic cholera) is a severe diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. ...

Even though the miasmatic theory has been disproven, by the knowledge of viruses 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. Groups I: dsDNA viruses II: ssDNA viruses III: dsRNA viruses IV: (+)ssRNA viruses V: (-)ssRNA viruses VI: ssRNA-RT viruses VII: dsDNA-RT viruses A virus (from the Latin noun virus, meaning toxin or poison) is a microscopic particle (ranging in size from 20 - 300 nm) that can infect the... Phyla Actinobacteria Aquificae Chlamydiae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Lentisphaerae Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Verrucomicrobia Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are unicellular microorganisms. ...

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. E. Coli bacteria under magnification Sanitation is the hygienic disposal or recycling of waste, as well as the policy and practice of protecting health through hygienic measures. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The germ theory of disease, also called the pathogenic theory of medicine, is a theory that proposes that microorganisms are the cause of many diseases. ...

Cholera

So far as cholera is concerned, the miasmatic theory was disproved by 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. Dr. Vagina Face John Snow (16 March 1813 - 16 June 1858) was a British physician and a leader in the adoption of anaesthesia and medical hygiene, and is considered one of the fathers of epidemiology for his work in tracing the source of a cholera outbreak in Soho, Westminster, England... Cast-iron architecture in Greene Street SoHo is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... This microscope slide, prepared by Pacini in 1854, was clearly identified as containing the cholera bacillus. ... For the American lobbyist, see Bobby Koch. ...

A remnant of this theory is the name of malaria, from Italian mala aria ("bad air"). Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. ...

Miasma in pop culture

In the hit anime series Inuyasha, the demon Naraku exhibits a poisonous gas when injured known as miasma. Serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday Original run 1996 – (ongoing) No. ... For the Buddhist underworld, see Naraka (Buddhism). ...

In the game Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, the central plot revolves around collecting a special purifying magical essence known as myrrh to protect your village from Miasma. In the game, walking beyond the protective barrier provided by this purifying magical essence, you will take damage. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is a video game for the Nintendo GameCube. ... 100g of Myrrh. ...

The death metal band the Black Dahlia Murder have a CD and song entitled "Miasma."

See also

• Night Air (Superstition)
• Polizeiwissenschaft ("Science of police")

Prior to the Nineteenth Century, night air was widely considered dangerous in America and some other western cultures. ... Polizeiwissenschaft (German for Police science) was a discipline born in the first third of the 18th century which lasted until the middle of the 19th century. ...

External links

• Prevailing theories before the germ theory
• Cholera theories
• Term definition