John Snow

John Snow (15 March 1813 – 16 June 1858) was an English physician and a leader in the development of anaesthesia and medical hygiene. He is considered one of the founders of modern epidemiology, in part because of his work in tracing the source of a cholera outbreak in Soho, London, in 1854, which he curtailed by removing the handle of a water pump.

Early life and education

John Snow was born on 15 March 1813 in York, England. He was the first of nine children born to William and Frances Snow in their North Street home. His neighbourhood was one of the poorest in the city and was always in danger of flooding because of its proximity to the River Ouse.

Snow was sent to a local school, where he proved to be a bright student. At the age of 14, he was apprenticed to William Hardcastle, a surgeon in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and later continued his medical education in London.

Career

In 1836, Snow began working at the Westminster Hospital in London, where he became known for his work on anaesthesia. He was one of the first physicians to study and calculate dosages for the use of ether and chloroform as surgical anaesthetics.

Snow's work on cholera was his most famous. During the cholera outbreak in Soho, London, in 1854, he traced the source of the outbreak to a public water pump on Broad Street (now Broadwick Street). His findings inspired fundamental changes in the water and waste systems of London, which led to similar changes in other cities, and a significant improvement in general public health around the world.

Legacy

John Snow's approach to tracing the cause of the cholera outbreak was a major event in the history of public health and can be regarded as the founding event of the science of epidemiology. He is also remembered for his work in anaesthesia and his efforts to improve sanitary conditions.

See also

• History of medicine
• Public health
• Epidemiology

External links

• The John Snow site at the UCLA Department of Epidemiology

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