112. Miasma

There’s something in the air this week on Butter No Parsnips… and it just might be toxic. Kyle and Emily strap on their beaked masks and dive into the history of the word miasma.

The roots of the word lie not just in a literal cloud of vapor, but also in the noxious atmosphere of shame and moral pollution. It turns out that even the most famous physicians like Hippocrates and Galen thought diseases were caused by bad smells and swamp gasses!

Speaking of diseases, our hosts take a look at some Plague history as well! Kyle explains the reasoning behind the iconic plague doctor mask, and Emily discovers it’s not quite what she thought. They also explore the delightful, poison soup full of monsters that is the River Thames.