Interesting article on the `History Today' web site this week about the theory of disease prevalent in JA's time: that diseases were caused by `miasma' or foul air. It certainly accounts for Mr Woodhouse's near obsession with the sort of air at various spots. Though of course he had no idea of germ theory, yet the miasma theory did lead him to do the right thing: to go for at least a gentle walk (good exercise when he otherwise might have stayed wrapped up inside) and encouraging Mr John Knightley to get the kids away from the foul air (or disease-ridden community) of London.