John Snow - An Epidemiologist,  An Anaesthesiologist, A Cholera Crusader -Pioneers of Public Health
Channel: SPM & Research with Dr Rock Britto
Date: 2023-11-01

#research #epidemiology #johnsnow #cholera 
John Snow (1813-1858) was a British physician and is considered one of the founding figures of modern epidemiology. His work in the mid-19th century revolutionized our understanding of the spread of diseases, particularly in the context of cholera outbreaks. Here are some key aspects of John Snow's life and work:

Cholera and the Broad Street Pump: In 1854, there was a severe cholera outbreak in London. John Snow meticulously mapped cases of the disease and noted a cluster of cases centered around a public water pump on Broad Street. He suspected that contaminated water from the pump was the source of the outbreak. Snow's investigation and removal of the pump's handle are considered a landmark event in the history of epidemiology. He demonstrated that cholera is waterborne, although the scientific community did not fully accept his findings at the time.

Father of Modern Epidemiology: John Snow is often referred to as the "father of modern epidemiology" because of his pioneering work in tracking the source of diseases and understanding their transmission. His approach to mapping cases and identifying common factors in disease outbreaks laid the foundation for the field of epidemiology.

Anesthesia: In addition to his work on cholera, Snow was also a pioneer in the use of anesthesia during surgery. He conducted research on the use of ether and chloroform as anesthetics, which greatly improved surgical procedures and patient comfort.

Scientific Contributions: Snow's work extended beyond cholera and anesthesia. He made significant contributions to the fields of public health and anesthesiology, emphasizing the importance of careful observation and data analysis.

Legacy: John Snow's work has had a lasting impact on public health and epidemiology. His use of data to understand the spread of diseases and his emphasis on the role of contaminated water sources have influenced modern approaches to disease control and prevention.

John Snow's work serves as a model for epidemiologists and public health professionals to this day, and he is remembered as a visionary scientist who made substantial contributions to the understanding of disease transmission and prevention.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/snow_john.shtml
https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/John_Snow
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7150208/
https://www.newscientist.com/people/john-snow/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Snow


Snow was a British physician who is considered one of the founders of epidemiology for his work identifying the source of a cholera outbreak in 1854.


John Snow was born into a labourer's family on 15 March 1813 in York, 
graduated from the University of London in 1844.
He did his first research with arsenic for preservation of human bodies, 
which was later stopped due to the toxicity developed among medical students. 


At the time, it was assumed that cholera was airborne. However, Snow did not accept this 'miasma' (bad air) theory, arguing that in fact entered the body through the mouth. He published his ideas in an essay 'On the Mode of Communication of Cholera' in 1849. A few years later, Snow was able to prove his theory in dramatic circumstances. In August 1854, a cholera outbreak occurred in Soho. After careful investigation, including plotting cases of cholera on a map of the area, Snow was able to identify a water pump in Broad (now Broadwick) Street as the source of the disease. He had the handle of the pump removed, and cases of cholera immediately began to diminish. However, Snow's 'germ' theory of disease was not widely accepted until the 1860s.
10 days after cholera discovery, William Budd proposed almost a same theory with the fungal origin for cholera. 
When it comes to the personal life, he was unmarried, teetotaler, was taking only vegan diet and boiled water. But, in his last few years of life, he consumed little animal products, and a small amount of wine. 
Snow was also a pioneer in the field of anaesthetics. By testing the effects of controlled doses of ether and chloroform on animals and on humans, he made those drugs safer and more effective. In April 1853, he was responsible for giving chloroform to Queen Victoria at the birth of her son Leopold, and performed the same task in April 1857 when her daughter Beatrice was born.
Snow died of a stroke on 16 June 1858.