John Snow Cholera - 1295 Words

John Snows approach to explaining cholera and how it spread consisted primarily of morbid poison entering the alimentary canal through means of contaminated water consumption. Snow believed this to be the basis of how cholera was contracted by individuals and believed improper sewage filtration was to blame as well as a means of spreading the disease from person to person. However, previous explanations of how cholera was contracted consisted of the theory of airborne infection. This theory proposed that cholera was contracted by inhaling air at low levels of altitude by such people as workers in slaughterhouses and bone merchants. This theory also proposed that the foul-smelling odors associated with these occupations were closely†¦show more content†¦Although Snow was never able to convince his peers early on of his theory that ingestion of contaminated water was the cause of cholera, he did recommend actions that could be taken in the presence of cholera and for preve nting the disease from spreading. These actions Snow provides in his pamphlet, On the Mode of Communication of Cholera consists of twelve measures society can perform in the presence of cholera and in preventing cholera and other diseases that are communicable in the same manner from spreading. The basis of the measures Snow suggests are strict cleanliness when dealing with sick individuals, proper preparations and filtration of water, and isolation between individuals that are sick and those who are not. Snows measure of strict cleanliness consisted of people exhibiting proper hygiene skills when dealing with disease stricken individuals by means of correct hand washing techniques, proper disposal of infected garments, and appropriate means of food handling. Snow was also an advocate of correct means of water filtration, primarily based on his theory of how cholera was transmitted. Actions that Snow suggested concerning water preparations and filtration included such things as boiling water before consumption, better source locations established by water companies, and a more efficient sewage and filtration systemShow MoreRelatedJohn Snow Father Of Epidemiology1094 Words   |  5 Pages == John Snow Father of Epidemiology Kagney Bryant Kaplan University August 29, 2014 John Snow Father of Epidemiology It is said â€Å"For his persistent efforts to determine how cholera was spread and for the statistical mapping methods he initiated, John Snow is widely considered to be the Father of [modern] Epidemiology† (David Vachon). The purpose of this paper is to communicate to you who John Snow is and expression to you what he did during his life. John Snow and the era he livedRead MoreThe Ghost Map By Steven Johnson1086 Words   |  5 Pageson a widespread disease that began in London in 1854. 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