It was more thinking that made no logical sense and was a bit of personal insult. Remember, the leading scientific theory at the time was that illness was caused by bad air. It would be the same as you suggesting to your doctor today that he wouldn't have killed his patient if he was wearing more deodorant. He would both think you are completely crazy and insulting.
If you had evidence showing that it seems to work, then whether the mechanism of action was understood yet or not, they shouldn't be perceiving it as crazy or insulting; they should be doing it, and in parallel seeking to understand it.
(It's also possible for a study to be flawed, but even then, the reaction should be to do better, not to react with "crazy and insulting".)
