John Snow is often called the founder of epidemiology, the study of health in populations. He is best known for his work on tracking the spread of cholera during an epidemic in London in 1854.

The leading voices in medicine believed the disease emanated from the foul gasses of London’s polluted streets. John Snow, a prominent anesthesiologist, was convinced otherwise. “He was the original ...

John Snow started mapping incidences of the disease in Soho, and noticed clusters around the Broad Street water pump. Snow disabled the pump (a recently restored replica of which stands outside ...