Question

Based on this excerpt from John Snow's "On the Mode of Communication of Cholera," what is the meaning of the word morbid?

Besides the facts above mentioned, which prove that cholera is communicated from person to person, there are others which show, first, that being present in the same room with a patient, and attending on him, do not necessarily expose a person to the morbid poison; and, secondly, that it is not always requisite that a person should be very near a cholera patient in order to take the disease, as the morbid matter producing it may be transmitted to a distance.

A. benign
B. precarious
C. pestilent
D. transmittable
E. superfluous

Answer: C. pestilent

I hope this helps.

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. Pestilent

Step-by-step explanation:

In the excerpt presented, the word "morbid" is used to describe cholera, which is a disease that can lead to death. About this, the author explains this can be passed from one person to another by direct contact or even at distance.

Also, the author uses the terms "morbid matter" and "morbid poison". The use of "morbid" refers to how lethal, unhealthy, or negative the disease is. This word can be related to the word "pestilent" which means "deadly". According to this, the meaning of morbid is pestilent.