[Miasmas, germs and doctors: the diffusion of ancient and new ideas in the Union médicale du Canada: the case of typhoid fever (1872-1900)].

Abstract

The final decades of the 19th century have become known as a period of important transition in the medical world. New discoveries revolutionized the way diseases were seen and fought. Germs, not miasmas, caused disease and sanitary measures of prevention not miracle treatments controlled them. The articles in l'Union médicale du Canada, from 1872 to 1900 concerning typhoid fever reveal that doctors rapidly accepted some important innovations. However, when it came to innovations refuting their former theories or risking to jeopardize their popularity with the public, certain doctors hesitated to adopt the new theories. This study presents the coexistance of new ideas with the older ideas, which continued to be presented, sometimes years after important discoveries. This paper looks at how they were finally won over to the newer ideas.