Times certainly have changed! Now it seems silly that they worried about getting sick through smell but not ingestion (though I would still dislike the smell of London back then). It is amazing that it still took over ten years to change this view, even after the efforts of John Locke and the minister. The fact that cholera is still a problem in third world countries today is astounding. As to the actual Ghost map, I would be very interested in visiting the modern-day Broad street as part of our London trip.
I find it interesting how many credible theories and ideas are not accepted right away. In this case, John Snow’s idea that cholera was caused by infected water was rejected. At the time, society accepted the idea that miasma or “bad air” caused the cholera epidemics. Even with arguing his point for four to five years, no one believed him. With the help of Reverend Henry Whitehead and plotting a map of the deaths from the 1854 Broad Street outbreak, the authorities slowly started accepting Snow’s theory. Because of John Snow, London has not seen a cholera outbreak since 1866. I think this is an excellent example of how an epidemiologist solves the problem of an outbreak. I find it irritating how long it takes some people to listen to reason, but I could imagine that it would be extremely difficult to change an idea accepted by society. I also think it would be very interesting to visit the modern day Broad Street during our trip.
I found this video very interesting. It just proves the fact that people will always follow the majority, and what is accepted and seen as "normal" by the majority. People did not believe John Snow and that the outbreak was being caused from contaminated water because during that time, the majority thought the outbreak was being caused by the air. If it wasn't for the Ghost Map it may have taken even longer for people to believe him because people like hard evidence that they can see. I think it is amazing how one person can basically change the world. Because of John Snow, the Cholera outbreak has not been seen since 1866. Not only did the discovery of boiling water would kill Cholera, it puts lead to modern day sanitation. I am enjoying the posts so far because we are getting a little more information about the background and history of London that I otherwise would not be learning.
Lucky students, we ARE going to visit Broad Street on our trip: we'll have a guided tour "Cholera Walk" AND a separate mini-lecture on epidemiology by a doctoral student.
You realize that there has been a major cholera outbreak in Haiti recently, right?
Yes, I saw on the news when it happened. Cholera outbreaks have occurred not just in Hati, but in other poor nations. In fact, finding clean drinking water is a major problem in third world countries. In Tanzania, many people have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for clean water systems. People are using UV rays to disinfect the water. It is cool stuff! I am excited about visiting Broad street! I heard there is a statue of John Snow and a marker where the original pump was. I am definately ready for lots of walking.
When I get the time I plan on reading the book The Ghost Map since I find patterns and time spans of disease outbreaks very interesting. The video is a short summary that demonstrates how dramatically different life was just over 150 years ago. Today we know that intestinal disease is probably to result of ingesting a contaminated substance, a respiratory disease is probably the result of inhaling an infectious particle. It wasn’t even until the beginning of the 1800s, however, that doctors rejected the theory of the four humors. John Snow was ahead of his time when he proposed that cholera was a water-borne disease. Since he did not have proof until he created the map around the Broad Street pump, his theory was not accepted for many years. Of course, we didn’t accept that the planets revolve around the sun instead of the earth for a while, either.
The thought that mounds of dead people were lying in basements for people to walk over is revolting. No wonder they thought the smell was killing people. Makes me think about the water we will be drinking while we are there. I didn't hear about the water in Haiti but I think it is sad because they have food shortage issues as well and I knew there water was not very good but didn't know it had Cholera. Thankfully Snow did his research to help people of London back in 1854 and made a map to find out what was causing people to die.
The fact that Snow thought the water was contaminated cholera, London should be thankful he did his research to help the people of London and find out why they were dying. As we heard and view England it must of been horrible 150 years ago. There is no way people could of survived beyond maybe 25 years old.We have learned that intestinal diseases are often caused by water that is not pure or contaminated by stock feces, and fertilizer we use that not only contaminate food but our water system. Even as modern as we are today , there are still very serious water problem all over the country. Todays disaster in Haiti sets us back in time. John Snow was way before his time now if we could get his simple research to work in the 3rd world countries who so desperately need help.
I admire people such as John Snow who go against the majority to try and change things for people. The hard work of people like this help to make the world a safer place. Although hardly no one believed him, his discoveries helped to potentially save thousands of lives. It was also interesting to go on the Cholera Walk; although the weather was not good, we were able to see a physical place where this tradgety happened. I think there is always going to be people who go with the majority, but this helps us to realize that we should open our minds to finding the real answer in every situation and not what seems to be the answer just because everyone believes it to be true.
Times certainly have changed! Now it seems silly that they worried about getting sick through smell but not ingestion (though I would still dislike the smell of London back then). It is amazing that it still took over ten years to change this view, even after the efforts of John Locke and the minister. The fact that cholera is still a problem in third world countries today is astounding.
ReplyDeleteAs to the actual Ghost map, I would be very interested in visiting the modern-day Broad street as part of our London trip.
I find it interesting how many credible theories and ideas are not accepted right away. In this case, John Snow’s idea that cholera was caused by infected water was rejected. At the time, society accepted the idea that miasma or “bad air” caused the cholera epidemics. Even with arguing his point for four to five years, no one believed him. With the help of Reverend Henry Whitehead and plotting a map of the deaths from the 1854 Broad Street outbreak, the authorities slowly started accepting Snow’s theory. Because of John Snow, London has not seen a cholera outbreak since 1866. I think this is an excellent example of how an epidemiologist solves the problem of an outbreak. I find it irritating how long it takes some people to listen to reason, but I could imagine that it would be extremely difficult to change an idea accepted by society.
ReplyDeleteI also think it would be very interesting to visit the modern day Broad Street during our trip.
I found this video very interesting. It just proves the fact that people will always follow the majority, and what is accepted and seen as "normal" by the majority. People did not believe John Snow and that the outbreak was being caused from contaminated water because during that time, the majority thought the outbreak was being caused by the air. If it wasn't for the Ghost Map it may have taken even longer for people to believe him because people like hard evidence that they can see. I think it is amazing how one person can basically change the world. Because of John Snow, the Cholera outbreak has not been seen since 1866. Not only did the discovery of boiling water would kill Cholera, it puts lead to modern day sanitation.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying the posts so far because we are getting a little more information about the background and history of London that I otherwise would not be learning.
Lucky students, we ARE going to visit Broad Street on our trip: we'll have a guided tour "Cholera Walk" AND a separate mini-lecture on epidemiology by a doctoral student.
ReplyDeleteYou realize that there has been a major cholera outbreak in Haiti recently, right?
Yes, I saw on the news when it happened. Cholera outbreaks have occurred not just in Hati, but in other poor nations. In fact, finding clean drinking water is a major problem in third world countries. In Tanzania, many people have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for clean water systems. People are using UV rays to disinfect the water. It is cool stuff!
ReplyDeleteI am excited about visiting Broad street! I heard there is a statue of John Snow and a marker where the original pump was. I am definately ready for lots of walking.
When I get the time I plan on reading the book The Ghost Map since I find patterns and time spans of disease outbreaks very interesting. The video is a short summary that demonstrates how dramatically different life was just over 150 years ago. Today we know that intestinal disease is probably to result of ingesting a contaminated substance, a respiratory disease is probably the result of inhaling an infectious particle. It wasn’t even until the beginning of the 1800s, however, that doctors rejected the theory of the four humors. John Snow was ahead of his time when he proposed that cholera was a water-borne disease. Since he did not have proof until he created the map around the Broad Street pump, his theory was not accepted for many years. Of course, we didn’t accept that the planets revolve around the sun instead of the earth for a while, either.
ReplyDeleteThe thought that mounds of dead people were lying in basements for people to walk over is revolting. No wonder they thought the smell was killing people. Makes me think about the water we will be drinking while we are there. I didn't hear about the water in Haiti but I think it is sad because they have food shortage issues as well and I knew there water was not very good but didn't know it had Cholera. Thankfully Snow did his research to help people of London back in 1854 and made a map to find out what was causing people to die.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Snow thought the water was contaminated cholera, London should be thankful he did his research to help the people of London and find out why they were dying. As we heard and view England it must of been horrible 150 years ago. There is no way people could of survived beyond maybe 25 years old.We have learned that intestinal diseases are often caused by water that is not pure or contaminated by stock feces, and fertilizer we use that not only contaminate food but our water system. Even as modern as we are today , there are still very serious water problem all over the country. Todays disaster in Haiti sets us back in time. John Snow was way before his time now if we could get his simple research to work in the 3rd world countries who so desperately need help.
ReplyDeleteI admire people such as John Snow who go against the majority to try and change things for people. The hard work of people like this help to make the world a safer place. Although hardly no one believed him, his discoveries helped to potentially save thousands of lives. It was also interesting to go on the Cholera Walk; although the weather was not good, we were able to see a physical place where this tradgety happened. I think there is always going to be people who go with the majority, but this helps us to realize that we should open our minds to finding the real answer in every situation and not what seems to be the answer just because everyone believes it to be true.
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