THE MEDICAL DETECTIVE John Snow and the Mystery of Cholera

Hardback. Dr. John Snow’s ground-breaking investigation into cholera’s spread in 19th-century Britain. In 1831, cholera, a deadly disease from Asia, devastated Europe, baffling medical professionals who believed it spread through miasma (bad air). Snow, a reclusive physician from a humble background, challenged this by meticulously tracing outbreaks, notably the 1854 Soho epidemic, to contaminated water sources like the Broad Street pump. His work, initially dismissed due to his lack of social status, laid the foundation for modern epidemiology. The author vividly details Snow’s persistence, his role as an anesthetist for Queen Victoria, and the societal resistance he faced from medical and political establishments. The narrative also explores Victorian medical practices and social history, making it a compelling blend of biography and medical thriller, highlighting Snow’s enduring legacy in public health. Illus., Epilogue, Main Sources and Index. 306pp. 8vo. h/back. V.v. lightly browned edges o/w F. in F. protected dw.