[From contagion to transmission: a change in how epidemics are perceived].

Dina Czeresnia

doi:10.1590/s0104-59701997000100005

Abstract

The article contextualizes the various discourses that have sought to explain epidemics through the elaboration of different notions, concepts, and theories. It describes the circumstances under which these discourses appeared and were transformed and ties them in to each era's universe of knowledge. It analyzes (1) the perceptions of contagion and miasma that linked the spreading of epidemics to the senses of touch and smell; (2) the theory of epidemic constitution--a re-reading of the Hippocratic tradition; and (3) Fracastoro's 16th century theory of contagion. Special attention is devoted to elaboration of the concept of transmission in conjunction with the emergence of modern medicine during the 19th century and to the discontinuity occasioned by a new perception of how epidemic diseases spread.

Highlights

The article contextualizes the various discourses that have sought to explain epidemics through the elaboration of different notions, concepts, and theories. It describes the circumstances under which these discourses appeared and were transformed and ties them in to each era's universe of knowledge. It analyzes (1) theperceptions o/contagion and miasma that linked the spreading of epidemics to the senses of touch and smell; (2) the theory of epidemic constitution— a re-reading of the Hippocratic tradition; and (3) Fracastoro's 16th century theory of contagion, Special attention is devoted to elaboration of the concept of transmission in conjunction with the emergence of modern medicine during the 19th century and to the discontinuity occasioned by a new perception of how epidemic diseases spread
193), tanto que ele questionou o curso de seu próprio pensamento ao se referir nostalgicamente à teoria da constituição epidêmica: "Temos o direito de relegar o genius epidemicus inteiramente às quimeras dos séculos passados?" Ressalte-se que, mesmo submetidos e já descaracterizados, os valores oriundos de uma concepção dinâmica permaneceram presentes, demarcando diferenças que continuaram a ser debatidas

Summary

Introduction

The article contextualizes the various discourses that have sought to explain epidemics through the elaboration of different notions, concepts, and theories. As noções de contágio e miasma ligavam-se a duas diferentes concepções de doença que eram coexistentes: uma, ontológica, esteve presente no imagináriode todas as culturas desde o mundo antigo; e outra, dinâmica, foi formulada no mundo grego em conformidade com a idéia de physis e, por intermédio das teorias hipocráticas e galênicas, deu corpo ao pensamento médico erudito até o século XVI.

Results

Conclusion