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)
There is a quiet dignity in the human struggle for survival.
The interconnectedness of all living things is a profound and beautiful truth.
Meaning is not given to us; it is created through our actions and choices.
The light of knowledge dispels the shadows of ignorance and superstition.
Even in the darkest moments, there is always the potential for hope and renewal.
The human mind, in its capacity for reason and empathy, is a truly remarkable phenomenon.
Our legacy is not in what we accumulate, but in the good we do for others.
The pursuit of health is a fundamental human right and a collective responsibility.
There is a certain elegance in simplicity, both in nature and in scientific explanation.
To truly live is to embrace the challenges and uncertainties that life presents.
The end of life is not a defeat, but a natural transition in the grand cycle of existence.
The scientific method is a powerful tool for uncovering the truths of the universe.
The human spirit possesses an incredible capacity for adaptation and resilience.
Finding meaning in suffering is one of the deepest challenges and triumphs of the human experience.
The intricate workings of the human body are a constant source of wonder and inspiration.
Our consciousness allows us to not only observe the world, but to reflect upon our place within it.
The pursuit of knowledge is a journey without end, and each discovery opens new horizons.
Life is a precious gift, and we have a responsibility to cherish and protect it.
Though death may separate us, the impact of a life well-lived endures.
The human capacity for empathy is a powerful force for good in the world.
Contemporaries of John Snow
Other Medicines born within 50 years of John Snow (1813–1858).