Main description:

Dr John Snow (1813-1858) was a famous physician, born in York and widely recognised as a leading pioneer in the development of anaesthesia in Britain, as well as one of the founding fathers of epidemiology. This is a lifetime's research about the life and works of Dr Snow, who was undoubtedly one of the most influential surgeons of our time. It is an exciting and gripping account taking us back to the infamous surgeon's early childhood through to his rise to becoming one of the most renowned names in the history of medicine. The book details death and disease in Britain during the 19th Century and the struggle he and his colleague surgeons had in keeping up with growing epidemics such as cholera. It has many anecdotes and quotes by eminent surgeons of tragic results during operations and discusses their pioneering experimentation using ether and chloroform during the development of anaesthesia. It talks about how the Industrial Revolution brought in its wake the rapid growth of certain towns and with it overcrowding, unsanitary dwellings, squalor and pestilence.
Sunderland was badly affected by cholera in November 1831, when Snow had learned of this serious epidemic, which had just entered Britain through the port of Sunderland from Europe. And here's how the story begins.

Contents:

Acknowledgements v Preface vii Introduction 1 1. Apprentice days 11 2. Cholera: The First Outbreak 1832 17 3. Hunter's School 27 4. The Westminster 33 5. General Practice 45 6. The Ether Revolution 59 7. St George's Hospital 87 8. Chloroform 105 9. The First Death 119 10. Cholera: The Second Outbreak 1848 137 11. Benjamin Richardson 161 12. Cholera: The Third Outbreak 1854 175 13. The Most Terrible Outbreak. 205 14. Royal Command. 217 15. The Amylene Disaster. 239 Conclusion 251 Appendix A: The inhaler 255 Appendix B: The diaries 261