Hi Alex, I also repost my first question. That discussion went off the track. I hope it will stick to right path this time.

When we ask someone, "What are miasms?", we usually get the answer, "Miasms are the fundamental cause of all diseases." or "Miasms are the factors which predispose us to diseases.". But these answers tell us about the effect of miasms and not what they stand for. Its like asking someone "What is an apple?" and getting the reply "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away." instead of "An apple is a fruit." Think over it.