Miasma theory of disease

Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course
Date
Miasma Theory of Disease
Miasma theory is an outdated medical theory that stated that pollution of night air caused illnesses such as cholera and chlamydia (Sterner 1). According to this approach, epidemics were brought about by miasma from decomposing organic matter characterized by a foul smell. Although the theory was primarily associated with the spread of diseases, some scholars in the nineteenth century suggested that it extended to other conditions, for instance, a person could be in risk of being obese by merely inhaling bad odour.
Europeans had accepted the miasma theory since the ancient times. In fact, Hippocrates the Greek physician believed that foul air led to pestilence and even referred lousy air as a fatal epidemic (Sterner 1). Galen, a physician, also held this belief and wrote it in his book on architecture advising people to keep off marshy neighbourhoods because the mists from the swamps mixed with the breath of swamp animals caused the spread of disease in the city. Reformers cleaned up the urban centers and build different sewage lines to prevent contamination (Sterner 3). The reform prevented terrible gases from leaking into homes, and there were reduced cases of diseases such as cholera.
The theory was popular and had support from many individuals and institutions in Europe until the late nineteenth century when it was proven wrong (Sterner 4). Scientists and physicians gave up the theory after Louis Pasteur established the germ theory in the 1860s and scientific proof for the theory emerged.

The germ theory explained that specific germs caused certain diseases. The research also identified life-saving treatments for the identified microbes (Sterner 4). However, people continued cleaning their cities to get rid of the odour.
Various scientific theories are no longer relevant to science. They include female and male hysteria, humourism, powder of sympathy, terrain theory, zymotic disease, and tooth worm. However, some arguments which were first rejected are now accepted, for instance, germ theory and epigenesis theory.

Works Cited
Sterner S. Carl. A Brief History of Miasmic Theory, 2007.