Do you know about Dr. John Snow and the water pump handle?
Dr. Snow is an important figure in the discipline of public health, because through the power of research and implementation of corrective measures, he was able to prevent the spread of disease and save lives.
And he did it by removing a water pump handle.
In 1854, London was experiencing an outbreak of cholera. Snow developed the theory that the disease was transmitted via water rather than air, as was commonly thought at the time.
Through interviews conducted within a neighborhood where cases were prevalent, Snow was able to trace a common source: a water pump on Broad Street. Snow removed the handle and saw fewer cases of cholera in the immediate aftermath. The cause of cholera was eventually isolated, officially, in 1883.
Snow's example has stood as an important example of modern epidemiology for over 150 years, showing modern public health advocates the importance of both research and practice.
