Miasma theory: Difference between revisions

In the 1850s, miasma was used to explain the spread of [[cholera]] in [[London]] and in [[Paris]], partly justifying [[Haussmann's renovation of Paris|Haussmann's later 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. Such a belief was in part accepted because of the general lack of air quality in urbanized areas.<ref name=":1" /> The wide acceptance of miasma theory during the cholera outbreaks overshadowed the partially correct 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. The [[Crimean War]] nurse [[Florence Nightingale]] (1820–1910)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow/1859map/cholera_prevailingtheories_a2.html|title=BRIEF HISTORY DURING THE SNOW ERA|website=www.ph.ucla.edu|accessdate=15 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibms.org/pdf/pdf_science/william_farr.pdf|title=Who was William Farr?|publisher=|accessdate=15 January 2018|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325114725/http://www.ibms.org/pdf/pdf_science/william_farr.pdf|archivedate=25 March 2009|df=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scpub.org/data//files/revinfdischron-9694.pdf|title=Wayback Machine|date=25 March 2009|publisher=|accessdate=15 January 2018|deadurl=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325114725/http://www.scpub.org/data//files/revinfdischron-9694.pdf|archivedate=25 March 2009|df=}}</ref> was a proponent of the theory and worked to make hospitals sanitary and fresh-smelling. It was stated in 'Notes on Nursing for the Labouring Classes' (1860) that Nightingale would "keep the air [the patient] breathes as pure as the external air.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=db0fdd56-04d9-4d01-96c5-cd755308c012@sessionmgr15&vid=1&hid=21&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN0026608553-13|title=Bookmarkable URL intermediate page|website=web.ebscohost.com|accessdate=15 January 2018}}</ref>