Sanitary Report: 148-9

The medical controversy as to causes of fever; as to whether it is caused by filth and vitiated atomosphere, or whether the state of the atomosphere is a predisposing cause to the reception of the fever, or the means of propagating that disease which has really some other, superior, independent or specific cause, does not appear to be one that for practical purposes need be considered, except that its effects is prejudicial in diverting attention from the practical means of prevention...

[...] it can but be regretted that the enlightened force of the professional opinion should sustain any diminution from an apparent want of unanimity on so important a question as the necessity of removing those causes, whether original or predisposing, that, for example, whilst the fleets were ravaged by fever and disease, men of high standing should have occupied the attention of the public with speculations on contagion and infection from gaols as the original cause, and diverted attention from the means of prevention, cleansing, and ventilation, the means by which, as will hereafter be shown, the pestilence was ultimately banished.