John Snow
John Snow (15 March 1813 – 16 June 1858[1]) was an English physician and a leader in the development of anaesthesia and medical hygiene. He is considered one of the founders of modern epidemiology and early germ theory, in part because of his work in tracing the source of a cholera outbreak in London's Soho, which he identified as a particular public water pump. Snow's findings inspired fundamental changes in the water and waste systems of London, which led to similar changes in other cities, and a significant improvement in general public health around the world.[2]
This article is about the physician. For other uses, see John Snow (disambiguation).
John Snow
15 March 1813
16 June 1858 (aged 45)
Anaesthesia
Locating source of a cholera outbreak (thus establishing the disease as water-borne)
Personal life
Snow was known to swim as a hobby for exercise.[35] He became a vegetarian at the age of 17 and was a teetotaller.[35] He embraced a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet by supplementing his vegetables with dairy products and eggs for eight years. Whilst in his thirties he became a vegan.[35] His health deteriorated and he suffered a renal disorder which he attributed to his vegan diet so he took up meat-eating and drinking wine.[35] He continued drinking pure water (via boiling) throughout his adult life. He never married.[36]
In 1830, Snow became a member of the temperance movement. In 1845, he became a member of York Temperance Society.[35] After his health declined it was only about 1845 that he consumed a little wine to aid digestion.[35]
Snow lived at 18 Sackville Street, London, from 1852 to his death in 1858.[37]
Snow suffered a stroke while working in his London office on 10 June 1858. He was 45 years old at the time.[38] He never recovered, dying six days later on 16 June 1858. He was buried in Brompton Cemetery.[39]
It has been speculated that his premature death may have been related to his frequent exposure and experimentation with anesthetic gases, which is now known to have numerous adverse health effects. Snow administered and experimented with ether, chloroform, ethyl nitrate, carbon disulfide, benzene, bromoform, ethyl bromide and dichloroethane during his lifetime.[40]