7. Miasma Theory of Disease
For centuries, Europeans believed that illnesses such as the plague and cholera were spread by miasma—noxious, foul-smelling air. This theory shaped city planning and public health efforts, often with little success. Authorities burned incense, carried sweet-smelling herbs, and even designed buildings to ward off “bad air.” It wasn’t until the rise of germ theory that the concept of miasma was finally debunked. Read on for more about this persistent belief.
