jjares reviewed John Snow and the Cholera Epidemic of 1854: The History of the Outbreak and Its Impact on Public Health Measures on + 3270 more book reviews
As this book reminds us, in ancient times, illnesses were often thought to have been caused by angry supernatural forces. The Egyptians were amazingly talented in understanding some of the basic tenets of medicine -- cleanliness, diagnosis through analysis, medications, foods, etc. Much of the time, faith and religion partnered with medicine to bring about relief. Pandemics and epidemics blew through populations with abandon -- and the folks had to wait for the infections to wear themselves out. Millions died because there was no understanding of the bacteria and viruses that wrought the difficulties across the world.
Dr. Snow had been noticed by the British public when he administered an anesthetic to Queen Victoria while she had Prince Leopold. With that successful treatment, the public was impressed, though the medical community was not pleased.
Cholera was one of the most dreaded diseases. During one of several epidemics that ravaged Victorian England (in 1832, 1849, 1854, and 1866), Dr. John Snow searched for answers. He did this through Herculean efforts cross-referencing location and specific infections. He found the source of the illness in a single manual water pump in the poor neighborhood of Soho. Still, because Snow wasn't in the upper crust of medical circles, his research was ignored for some time. However, Snow's theories were proven and accepted (after decades) and the British government changed things to prevent cholera's reemergence. Eventually, Snow was invited into Britain's inner circle of elite medical practitioners.
I thought this story could have been better by cutting out some of the ancient theories and tightening up the story of Snow's work.
Dr. Snow had been noticed by the British public when he administered an anesthetic to Queen Victoria while she had Prince Leopold. With that successful treatment, the public was impressed, though the medical community was not pleased.
Cholera was one of the most dreaded diseases. During one of several epidemics that ravaged Victorian England (in 1832, 1849, 1854, and 1866), Dr. John Snow searched for answers. He did this through Herculean efforts cross-referencing location and specific infections. He found the source of the illness in a single manual water pump in the poor neighborhood of Soho. Still, because Snow wasn't in the upper crust of medical circles, his research was ignored for some time. However, Snow's theories were proven and accepted (after decades) and the British government changed things to prevent cholera's reemergence. Eventually, Snow was invited into Britain's inner circle of elite medical practitioners.
I thought this story could have been better by cutting out some of the ancient theories and tightening up the story of Snow's work.
