Question

Describe the two main Victorian theories of how diseases were spread, and explain how these are different from modern germ theory.

Answer 1

The miasmatic theory began in ancient Greek times. The theory describes that disease is created from fumes and spread from decaying matter and dirty environments. According to the theory, the fumes that are created spread disease to spiritually imbalanced people.

The contagionism theory is the ancient ideology that disease is spread through direct contact with people or their bodily fluids. According to the theory, a way to protect against disease is through mystic rituals.

The germ theory is the modern theory stating that disease is spread through microorganisms. The theory is what identified the origin of disease.

The miasmatic theory was correct in the way that it explained that disease can be spread through decaying matter and dirty environments. The contagionism theory was correct in the way that it discussed that disease can spread through direct contact. It was also correct with practicing quarantining. All in all, both the miasmatic theory and the contagionism theory begun with the belief in superstition, whereas the germ theory has a more scientific outlook.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

Basic forms of germ theory were proposed in the late Middle Ages by physicians including Ibn Sina in 1025, Ibn Khatima and Ibn al-Khatib in the 14th century, Girolamo Fracastoro in 1546, and expanded upon by Marcus von Plenciz in 1762. However, such views were held in disdain in Europe, where Galen's miasma theory remained dominant among scientists and doctors. By the early nineteenth century, smallpox vaccination was commonplace in Europe

The miasma theory was the predominant theory of disease transmission before the germ theory took hold towards the end of the 19th century, and it is no longer accepted as a scientific theory of disease. It held that diseases such as cholera, chlamydia infection, or the Black Death were caused by a miasma (μίασμα, Ancient Greek: "pollution"), a noxious form of "bad air" emanating from rotting organic matter. Miasma was considered to be a poisonous vapor or mist filled with particles from decomposed matter (miasmata) that was identifiable by its foul smell.