Why did people sniff bunches of herbs while outside during the middle ages

Consider the title and souce of the following articles. which one is most likely to exhibit a bias? (a) how to roast beef," by the food editor of a magazine (b) americans experiencing greater fatigue than previous generations, " by a harvard researcher (c) "americans' worsening eyesight not related to computer screen usage," by the public relations director of a major computer manufacturer (d) "sharing the burden: a history of cooperation," by a college professor