On the Mode of Communication of Cholera

work by Snow

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July 19, 2026

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John Snow's work, "On the Mode of Communication of Cholera," published in 1855, challenged the prevailing miasma theory, which attributed diseases to foul air. Instead, Snow proposed that cholera was spread through contaminated water and direct fecal contact. His groundbreaking studies, particularly his investigation of the Broad Street pump outbreak in 1854, used innovative reasoning, maps, and statistical analysis to demonstrate the link between contaminated water and cholera transmission. This work is considered a foundational contribution to the field of epidemiology and supported the emerging germ theory of disease.12345

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John Snow
Broad Street pump and the Grand Experiment
…were published in his book On the Mode of Communication of Cholera (1855). Later, in the 1930s, Snow’s work was republished as a classic work in epidemiology, resulting in lasting recognition of his work.
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…were published in his book On the Mode of Communication of Cholera (1855). Later, in the 1930s, Snow’s work was republished as a classic work in epidemiology, resulting in lasting recognition of his work.
Read More