A look at the history of etiological frameworks

Swept through Europe in the 14th century (1348-1351).

Caused fever, swollen and oozing nodes, red rash, necrosis, dehydration, and death.

Killed approximately 200 million people.

Why do you think the bubonic plague persisted for so long? (4 consecutive years) and killed so many people?

We now understand that the plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis that is transmitted through fleas.

But this etiological framework was unknown in the 14th century.

Proposed causes:

1. Atmospheric alterations resulting from a rare conjunction of planets

2. Divine punishment for the sinners and morally corrupt

3. Miasma theory 4. The poor

Miasma or “bad air” was considered to be a poisonous vapour or mist filled with particles from garbage that caused illnesses.

The “bad air” was detected by foul smells (i.e. the smell of garbage)

Abiding by this notion, physicians and the rich wore masks that contained fragrant herbs so that they could not smell the “bad air”.

Ring around the Rosie,A pocketful of posies.ashes, ashes.We all fall down!.

Some think it is written about the bubonic plague The symptoms of the plague included a rosy red

rash in the shape of a ring on the skin (Ring around the Rosie).

Pockets and pouches were filled with sweet smelling herbs (or posies) which were carried due to the belief that the disease was transmitted by bad smells.

The term "Ashes Ashes" refers to the cremation of the dead bodies!

Although the reasoning (foul smell) was wrong, the miasma theory was correct with the observations that disease was associated with poor sanitation.

This caused public health reforms and to an extent encouraged cleanliness, but most of all it promoted the idea of isolation.

Their solution, isolate the sick, dirty poor from the healthy rich!

Miasma theory and tactics of isolation dominated for the next 500 years, until it was finally replaced by the Germ Theory in 1860!

What is Germ Theory?

Any ideas???

The Germ Theory, proposed by Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch, stated that illness is caused by microscopic organisms called “germs”.

We now know these “germs” to be viruses, bacteria, protists, etc…

Also we know not all diseases are caused by “germs” as some are genetic and/or caused by mutation.

We have causation, Vaccines, Antiseptics, Antibiotics, and Antivirals

But this does not mean we are immune to epidemics.

Recurring waves of Influenza Spanish Flu 1918 Swine Flu 1931 Asian Flu 1957 Avian Flu 2006 Swine Flu 2009

Influenza remains the biggest and unconquered acute threat to human health, inflicting damage and death far beyond familiar notification data. The impact of influenza A is particularly severe during periodic pandemics owing to novel antigenic variants which override immunity from experience of earlier subtypes. N.R Grist

Public Health measures are the product and legacy of prior epidemics.

Legislated controls are influenced by current notions of disease transmission and can incorporate social prejudice.

Homework

1) What is the miasma theory of disease?2) What is the germ theory of disease?3) What public health measures were based

on the above two theories?