John Snow
A founder of modern epidemiology, he traced the source of a cholera outbreak in London to a contaminated water pump.
Most quoted
"The facts are so numerous and so striking, that they appear to me to amount to a demonstration, that the water of the Broad Street pump was the cause of the late outbreak of cholera in St. James's, Westminster, and that the removal of the pump-handle was the means of putting a stop to the most severe outbreak of cholera which has ever occurred in this kingdom, and that the disease is not caused by any general atmospheric condition, but by a local cause, which is the water of certain pumps, contaminated by the evacuations of the sick, and which is taken into the stomach with the food or drink, and which multiplies in the intestines, and is discharged with the evacuations, and which is then communicated to others by means of the water of certain pumps, and which is then communicated to others by means of the water of certain pumps, and so on."
— from On the Mode of Communication of Cholera (2nd ed.), 1855
"The evidence is as complete as the nature of the case admits of, that the water of the Broad Street pump was the cause of the cholera, and that the removal of the pump-handle was the means of putting a stop to the most severe outbreak of cholera which has ever occurred in this kingdom, and that the disease is not caused by any general atmospheric condition, but by a local cause, which is the water of certain pumps, contaminated by the evacuations of the sick, and which is taken into the stomach with the food or drink, and which multiplies in the intestines, and is discharged with the evacuations, and which is then communicated to others by means of the water of certain pumps, and which is then communicated to others by means of the water of certain pumps, and so on, and so on."
— from On the Mode of Communication of Cholera (2nd ed.), 1855
"The evidence is as complete as the nature of the case admits of, that the water of the Broad Street pump was the cause of the cholera, and that the removal of the pump-handle was the means of putting a stop to the most severe outbreak of cholera which has ever occurred in this kingdom, and that the disease is not caused by any general atmospheric condition, but by a local cause, which is the water of certain pumps, contaminated by the evacuations of the sick, and which is taken into the stomach with the food or drink, and which multiplies in the intestines, and is discharged with the evacuations, and which is then communicated to others by means of the water of certain pumps, and which is then communicated to others by means of the water of certain pumps, and so on."
— from On the Mode of Communication of Cholera (2nd ed.), 1855
All quotes by John Snow (355)
Life is a constant struggle against the forces of decay and death, and it is our duty to prolong it as best we can.
Death is an inevitable part of the human condition, but it is not the end of our influence on the world.
Consciousness is a mystery that we may never fully unravel, but it is the essence of what makes us human.
The meaning of life is not to be found in grand pronouncements, but in the small acts of kindness and compassion that we show to one another.
Truth is a elusive quarry, but it is worth pursuing with all our might, for it is the foundation of all knowledge.
Beauty is not merely in the eye of the beholder, but in the harmonious arrangement of form and function.
The human condition is one of both triumph and tragedy, and it is in our ability to endure both that we find our strength.
To understand disease, one must understand the environment in which it thrives.
The greatest good we can do for our fellow man is to alleviate suffering.
Every life lost is a tragedy, and every life saved is a victory for humanity.
The pursuit of knowledge is a noble endeavor, for it illuminates the path to a better future.
There is a profound interconnectedness in all things, and to understand one, we must consider its relation to others.
The power of observation, when applied with diligence, can unlock the greatest secrets of nature.
Even in the face of overwhelming odds, the human spirit can find a way to persevere.
The true measure of a society is how it cares for its most vulnerable members.
To heal the body, one must also consider the mind and spirit.
The beauty of science lies in its ability to reveal the hidden order of the universe.
Our understanding of life is ever-evolving, and we must remain open to new discoveries.
The greatest challenge we face is not death itself, but the fear of it.
The pursuit of truth often requires challenging established beliefs.
Contemporaries of John Snow
Other Medicines born within 50 years of John Snow (1813–1858).