The
miasma theory of
disease held that diseases like
cholera were caused by a
miasma (Greek language: "pollution"), a noxious form of "bad air".
The miasma theory was consistent with the observations that:
- disease was associated with poor sanitation (and hence foul odors) and that
- sanitary improvements reduced disease,
but not with the observations of
microbiology that led to the
germ theory of disease.
Although incorrect, the miasma theory helped motivate major improvements in sanitation.
Prominent supporters of the miasma theory included: