#Germ #theory, the concept that many #diseases are caused by #microorganisms (#bacteria in particular), is the currently accepted #scientific theory of disease. Prior to the 19th century, disease was thought to come from #miasma or “bad air” emanating from rotting #matter. 💨⠀ ⠀ Germ theory led to a ‘seek and destroy’ approach to microbes for most of the 20th #century. The sentiment permeated through all aspects of #human #life, from #hygiene 🛀🏾 to #agriculture 🌾 to #medicine 💉—and to #advertising. We attempted to #purify and sterilize ourselves and our #environment, a #practice we now know is both futile (bacteria are everywhere, and most of them are harmless) and carried unintentional but significant consequences.