John Snow's Contribution to Epidemiology - Assignment Example

Running Head: JOHN SNOW John Snow Medical science is a field of study and practice that is ever-changing. It is now and then intercepted by new discoveries and new theories. It is field that is marked by a high degree of dynamism and ongoing advancements. This dynamic nature of the medical profession can be attributed to acumen of noted physicians, who brought about new ideas and revelations in medical history through their insatiable desire for knowledge and their unaltered dedication to serve mankind. One such physician who can be credited with bringing about a radical change in the field of medicine through his contribution to the sphere of epidemiology is John Snow (1813-1858). John Snow, also known as the father of epidemiology, is a renowned British physician who played a major role in discovering the real cause of cholera. He propounded that cholera was a water-borne disease which is caused by the oral ingestion of the disease-causing germs. Following this theory, he also succeeded in tracing the source of the spread of cholera during an outbreak of the epidemic in Soho. (Vinten-Johansen et. al., 2004). Snow was born and brought up in York region of England. After completing his preliminary education till the age of 14, he began working as an apprentice to a surgeon. During his tenure as a surgical apprentice, Snow gathered valuable knowledge about the fundamental concepts of medical science and learnt multiple skills that are essential for a physician. This period in his life was extremely influential in the growth and development of Snow in the domain of medicine and surgery. He understood the mechanism of spread of diseases, learnt ways to restrict the spread of diseases, observed many surgeries taking place and came to know the ways to ensure the welfare of patients. This period not only marked a learning phase in the life of Snow but also saw his emergence as a skilled physician. He developed a scientific approach for administering pharmaceuticals to the patient with respect to their dosage and personal identifiers. (Piarroux and Faucher, 2012). For instance, he showed how the human body responded to different doses of anesthetic drugs. (Ball, 2008). Though the approach was formulated several decades back by Snow, the intervention still continues to be followed worldwide in the practice of medical science today. In the late 1840s, a widespread outbreak of cholera was witnessed in London. During this period Snow, using his scientific methodology, was able to discover the nature of a dangerous strain of cholera. By the use of cartographic inference and intense focus on the affected region, he was also able to identify the exact source that was responsible for the spread of the infection. A similar case that established Snow’s skill as a medical professional was his efforts to overcome the cholera epidemic crisis in Soho in 1854. He used the approach of field work to gather data and used cartography to plot the areas that were affected. By following these steps he was successful in concluding that the water pump at Broadwick Street was the original source of the spread of the disease. Subsequent restriction on the use of the water pump led to a significant decrease in the incidence of the disease in Soho and its adjacent areas. (White, 2011). The most remarkable achievement of Snow in the field of medicine was his development of the germ theory. At the time when he was practicing, the germ theory was non-existent in Britain. People were not aware of the fact that cholera was spread through the medium of contaminated food and water. The society carried the prejudice that cholera was a bad omen as it caused innumerable deaths within a very short span of time. Some believed that it was an air-borne infection, while some believed that it affected one’s respiratory system. But Snow cleared the air by establishing that contrary to popular beliefs, cholera spread through the medium of water and that it affected the digestive system. Moreover he pinpointed that diarrhea and vomiting are two prime symptoms of cholera. (White, 2011). However, this theory proposed by Snow received universal acceptance only in the 1860s. Prior to that, he had to come across many obstacles to prove the validity of his theory and to gain acknowledgement of his proposition. The phase of his work coincided with the Victorian era. In this era, the societal pressures greatly restricted the scope of working for a physician. A physician could not do much to bring about a large scale change in the way the existing society perceived things. (Vinten-Johansen et. al., 2004). So all he could do was to advise people to boil drinking water and use antiseptic techniques as a precaution to control the spread of the disease. The ideas put forward by Snow received only partial acceptance from few members of the medical fraternity. Rest of the society along with the government had severe objections to accepting the fact that cholera is actually transmitted through a faecal to mouth passageway. The germ theory put forward by Snow came into serious conflict with the Victorian principles of decency and appropriateness. (Murugaiah, 2013). Nevertheless, with the passage of time, Snow’s theory gained its deserved popularity and acceptance not only within the territory of Britain but also worldwide. The ideas postulated by him are a substantial component of the modern-day medical practice. His inquisitive mind and scientific approach led him discover a way of dealing with one of the most feared epidemics of his times. His revelations about the cause and the mechanism of spread of cholera led to the birth of a whole new discipline in the sphere of medical science which has been termed as epidemiology. Though this new field has undergone significant changes and improvements in the years after Snow, the basic principles that govern the concept of epidemiology still draw from his ideas. Considering his immense contribution to the field of medicine and the new perspective added to the domain of disease prevention, John Snow undoubtedly is the Father of Epidemiology. References: Ball, L. (2009). Cholera and the Pump on Broad Street: The Life and Legacy of John Snow. The History Teacher, 43(1), 105-119. Murugaiah, C. (2013). “The Burden of Cholera”.Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 2011; 37(4): 337–348 Piarroux, R. R., & Faucher, B. B. (2012). “Cholera epidemics in 2010: respective roles of environment, strain changes, and human-driven dissemination”. Clinical Microbiology & Infection, 18(3), 231-238. Vinten-Johansen, P. (2004). “Cholera, Chloroform, and the Science of Medicine: A Life of John Snow”. Bulletin of the History of Medicine, 78(4), 896-897. White, G. L. (2011). “Epidemiologic Adventure: The Broad Street Pump”. Southern Medical Journal. 92(10), 394-410. Read More