Unmasking Cholera | John Snow & the Broad Street Pump

Game of Thrones fans, prepare to be disappointed as Kevin Hicks explores the story of an altogether different and far more important John Snow. Dr John Snow made a huge contribution to fighting cholera when he was able to demonstrate a link between cholera and contaminated drinking water in 1854. His actions at the Broad Street Pump in London were instrumental in proving his theories and he basically stopped a cholera epidemic in its tracks.
#JohnSnow #DrJohnSnow #Cholera1854 #Cholera #CholeraOutbreak1854 #BroadStreetPump
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IMAGE CREDITS:
John Snow's memorial ©Zuck johnsnow.matri...
Cholera Map, Public Domain commons.wikime...

[@floydstowe]

Can't even imagine how many lives Doc Snow saved and the changes that were made because of the one man

[@Desjardins92]

Nicely done, Kevin! I am a spatial epidemiologist and this is such an important and most famous example of using "spatial thinking"/analysis to study disease. Just made my pilgrimage to the pub last year.

[@thehistorysquad]

Cool, thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@rockstarJDP]

Dr Snows legacy does live! When I did my first year of nursing one of the first things we covered naturally was infection control, hygiene and investigative nursing and his findings were the opening example to the module, particularly as at the time the NHS were doing a drive towards recognising and diagnosing sepsis. It's amazing how much of "old" medicine still has its place in modern practice, please do more of these Kevin, great job as ever! 🙂

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks, will do 👍🏻

[@RighteousnessWillPrevail]

Actually older medical treatments are better than newer ones if you go to the right Dr and recieve the right herbs ect. Basically the eastern part of the world has better medicine from medicines knowledge past down for thousands of years. Much still lost from the blue healing Buhda. But Western part of the world is better with surgery.

[@jodieg6318]

Some of the best boots-on-the-ground work I’ve ever read in this story. It’s always amazed me what things we take for granted now we’re such major problems for people living in towns in any period of history; sanitation, water supply, fire, all major problems and solved in some very ingenious ways.

[@als3022]

To be fair they are still major issues. Even in major western cities the problem arises constantly. We aren't as advanced as we think we are. And that is just in the western world.

[@jodieg6318]

@@als3022 I have personal experience with that. I once came down with case of dysentery from contaminated food in 2009. I don’t think a lot of people know just how much of the struggle still goes on; out breaks TB and plague still happen rather regularly in the western parts of the United States.

[@thomasbell7033]

@@jodieg6318 I've noticed that over years, the.geographical correlation. I wonder why the American west.

[@jodieg6318]

@@thomasbell7033 one of the cases I read about was when there was a novelty for prairie dog as exotic pets which carried the plague fleas. The cases of TB are sadder because it breaks out most among the homeless hence why it’s not very well known.

[@thomasbell7033]

@@jodieg6318 I missed that one. I was remembering the rats bearing fleas with plague and hantovirus.

[@alexsitaras6508]

With having studied John Snow's work in multiple epi and public health courses. This was probably the most approachable way I've seen it taught.

[@thehistorysquad]

Wow, that's great to hear Alex, thanks 👍🏻

[@Draco137YT]

The sewer projects in the aftermath of the 1830 Vienna cholera epidemic and the 1850s Broad Street outbreak were some of the most important developments in public health in the modern era. Reliable sanitation infrastructure has since doubtless saved tens of millions of lives around the world. John Snow out here doing God's work.

[@gregkral4467]

Thank God for Doctor John Snow. He sure did due diligence and true scientific examination. Thank you.

[@BleedEaglesGreen023]

I just wrote my C of Q to become a licensed plumber this week. Proper water treatment and waste treatment is integral to keeping people safe and eliminating disease. Thanks for another great video Kevin.

[@thehistorysquad]

Yes, that's for sure! Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@patrickhebdo5423]

that revelation was more terrifying than most horror movies i’ve seen. imagine that being a movie and seeing peoples reactions to learning they were drinking DILUTED CHOLERA SEWER WATER AND THAT WAS THE TASTE EVERYONE MISSED

[@skylermuscel4610]

Nasty! _Gags_

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

Great comment and oh so true. Poor sanitation still kills around the world.

[@truracer20]

That is not the taste that people liked, if it were then why did it take so long for the victims to contract cholera? Kevin is a funny and likeable character but he does like to embellish. Remember a healthy victim who already loved the taste moved away and then contracted cholera from the water she had shipped in.

[@severinjones6426]

I bloody love your channel! (The arrowhead episode is what pulled me in). This is how you make history interesting! I'm recommending this channel to all my friends that enjoy history like this! 💜

[@thehistorysquad]

Great! Thanks so much for sharing, it's much appreciated.

[@chocolateenima1189]

I could listen to your stories all day what a phenomenal explanation

[@fredsimmons2793]

Some of my wife's relatives might of been residents of said work house,you could barley say that Keven with a straight face.Your focus on this highly pivotal moment in the world's step forward in the health of humanity, is elevated by your presentation,my friend.

[@thehistorysquad]

Haha, you noticed. Thanks for watching and your kind comment Fred.

[@Cormano980]

My neighborhood drunk says he never drinks water because it makes him rust , now I know why I never saw him sick

[@thehistorysquad]

😂

[@workaholica]

Dr. Snow not only invented track and trace, but also made one of the first thematic maps. And now over to Joseph Bazalgette.

[@thehistorysquad]

Yes, absolutely, a favourite subject of mine.

[@Butterfly54684]

@workaholica, thank you for your comment there about Joseph Bazalgette. It has always made me smile that John Snow and Bazalgette shared the names of news readers and in fact, Bazelgette was the Great grandfather of Bazalgette the news reader. Bit of useless information there.

[@TheEvertw]

You were on to something, John Snow! Great story, thank you!

[@garygalt4146]

Thanks for the refresh. On this as a avid history buff since childhood I had been taught about this. But memories fade with age. But your telling of the subject’s are far more entertaining and memorable. I think channel 4 and bbc missed out on a great presenter in yourself. I know your a happy immigrant in Canada but you will always have a home and hearth Back in Blighty. Keep up the great work. I have just applied to my local archery club and asked about teaching disabled they are looking into my stupid illness to see if it’s possible. Thanks to your videos giving me the urge to shoot again. To build some fitness. I had a kids bow for my son and spent many hours in the garden with him growing up. Instead of actually gardening for my old man. Now he’s gone (covid) and I actually enjoy pottering around his garden. When my strength allows. I wish ide listened to him more for his knowledge on the garden. Like you he had a great deal of knowledge. It was him taking me around every castle in north Wales Lancashire and many in Yorkshire ancient burials, that gave me my love of history. DIY so that we could do any job in are own homes. But gardens well that skipped me. Your story’s put down on tape. Are like listening to my old man. But they are truly there to play back And so are extremely important. Thank you.

[@thehistorysquad]

Gosh, thanks Gary for your very kind words and sharing your memories of your Dad. I'm glad you're enjoying the videos and look forward to bringing lots more history, and my own stories, to the channel.

[@owen1079]

Been bingeing your videos all day. From the 100 years war to a Cholera infected water pump - you make learning about any subject fascinating! You & your wife's hard work deserve millions of views & subscribers.

[@thehistorysquad]

Hi Owen, that's very kind of you thanks. I'm glad you're enjoying the vids 👍🏻

[@phillipmatthews2531]

Wow Kevin,what a fantastic piece of detective work by Dr. Snow,very interesting,many thanks for doing this one Kevin!

[@thehistorysquad]

Very welcome

[@gloworm6387]

Amazing video Mr. Hicks. I'm sure the good Dr. is smiling down on you & saying "thank you, Kevin". 👍

[@stupidityatitsfinest3424]

Remember learning about this in high school, just brought the whole thing back to me

[@thehistorysquad]

I think it's still on the curriculum 👍🏻

[@Aramis419]

Where we go, "up the mountains", so to speak, is to a place called Barclay, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. It used to be a booming coal-mining town about the same time as Dr. Snow. USED TO BE - and I can't stress that enough. There was a cholera outbreak, and the cemetery there has headstones that simply read "Baby Mitchell 1856." or "Baby O'Brien 1856". These kids didn't have enough time to be baptized before they were buried beside their parents.

[@starboy832]

We did actually learn a bit about John Snow in GCSE history back in 2014, we did the broad street pump and the history of chloroform which Snow had an important role in, perhaps another video!

[@thehistorysquad]

Oh yes, for sure 👍🏻

[@Spitefire6]

Remember learning about this for my History GCSE (Medicine through time), It did fascinate me at how rather rapidly in the span of 100-150 years the west expanded its medical knowledge, after medical regression and little advancements in medicine for hundreds of years

[@patcottlr5250]

Wow, what a story! So interesting and vital even today. History is so important, the lessons we can learn and how it effects us today. Thank you for a brilliant channel. My favourite history channel.

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks Pat, I appreciate it. 👍🏻

[@carlmitchell3431]

As always Kivin very informative, who new I had never heard of Dr Snow and the wonderful work he did thanks.

[@passionforlust]

Another excellent and most educational video, knew this story in general but appreciate much the added details of it.

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers Dan, glad you liked it 👍🏻

[@simvrod]

Very well presented. A hero that should be praised more. Thank you

[@dumbluck6180]

Cholera epidemics plagued London decades before and after John Snow discovered contamination at the Broad St. pump. Large areas of south London were served by two water companies, Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company, and the Lambeth Waterworks Company. Both companies drew water from the River Thames and downstream of a large sewage discharge. In some neighborhoods both company's pipes were connected and many people got sick with cholera. But in 1852 the Lambeth Company moved its water intake up river and away from the sewage, and few people drinking Lambeth water got sick. John Snow wrote about it in "The Grand Experiment". In his book, On the Mode of Communication of Cholera (1855). Vibrio cholerae was discoverd in 1854 but wasn't fully studied until the 1880s. It also spread to the USA and killed many migrants on The Oregon Trail.

[@deltaforcegamingcorp.2232]

Just found this channel and already loved it, there’s not much content in KZbin that holds me for 20+ mins engaged on a video, very interesting stuff and well presented thank you

[@thehistorysquad]

Thank you too, and welcome to the channel. I hope you continue to enjoy some of our back videos too. 👍🏻

[@rizmark5522]

Ripper Street TV show featured in an episode called The King Came Calling where a suspected outbreak of cholera came from a public hand pump but in the end it was ergot poisoning from a fungus.

[@okancanarslan3730]

Brilliantly narrated story

[@johnnymac6178]

I freakin love the costumes in every video! Great historical videos. 😁

[@scrappydoo7887]

They really are great

[@thehistorysquad]

Haha, cheers!

[@terri200]

I learned about him in school. I liked the fact that they even did a segment of him on the PBS broadcast on Victoria. Thank you for all of the different topics you share in your videos!!👏👏👏💯💯💯

[@levibeau3537]

Just stumbled across you yesterday and I'm officially all caught up & subscribed!

[@thehistorysquad]

Excellent, thanks for the sub & welcome to the channel!

[@RamekGreen]

Clearly this John Snow knew something!

[@frankieblue1945]

Hmm, maybe that's why hose water was so delicious when I was a kid? I like when you dress up AND when you them in character. Thanks Brother.

[@lisaconner7609]

Beautiful job Kevin!

[@kakarikiIck]

Awesome channel. Great work Kevin sir.

[@Intrepid_Insomniac]

Love your videos, always a pleasure!! ❤️ Thank you! Many blessings from Olympia WA, USA!

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers & thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@locotico71]

Very informative. I learned something new today. Thank You

[@markandrews2942]

Thank you for my continuing education. Interesting to me even in central NY. Thanx

[@peterkelly1665]

Snow's maps are often used in introduction to geographic mapping courses to promote interest in mapping analysis

[@JCOwens-zq6fd]

Well done. Did you know that the idea that disease was caused by "minute little creatures invisible to the eye" was introduced by the Roman scholar Marcus Varro (head of Roman imperial Library) more than 2,000 years ago?

[@thehistorysquad]

No I didn't, but I'm going to look that up......fascinating 👍🏻

[@user-yx7dp2pl8t]

Another well structured and informative video, thank you!

[@davidbmason]

I LOVE the medical history Kevin. Thank you so much. You rock.

[@philgreen815]

Very interesting subject, as always fascinating material very well presented. Reminds us how harsh life was in early London. Very well done Kevin.

[@Threechordsandthetruth24]

Another great video Kevin love the side burns 👍

[@roberthenry9319]

Marvelous, as always. Thank you. Robert Henry, M.D.

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks for watching Robert 👍🏻

[@Moogatoo]

I learned about this in GIS class

[@chrismorse2096]

What a brilliantly detailed explanation of a horrible historical event! A wonderful episode! Please many more!

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers Chris 👍🏻

[@GameOver-fn2og]

This is about John Snow which knew something.

[@jackdorsey4850]

Nice job you really go around the briar 😀bush and cover all aspects of history thank you.😃

[@brianwoodbridge88]

Thanks for covering the accomplishments of this great man! His legacy will live on for many years to come! This video is amazing! You might even say it’s the sh… 😆😄Great work Kevin and team!

[@thehistorysquad]

🤣 Cheers!

[@Jerry-xx3qk]

There's a pub named in his honour on the corner where the pump was located. The best place to raise a glass in his memory.

[@allanburt5250]

Fantastic as always 👏

[@davesmith7432]

This is a brilliant channel! Good story!

[@thehistorysquad]

Thank you very much!

[@johnrigler8858]

As Paul Mccartney wrote, ""Give my regards to Broad Street"

[@Ian-mj4pt]

Can't believe I missed this 😫 look forward to anything from Kevin and it's all so interesting. Anyway grateful for watching it. Thanks Kevin and your lovely wife for the educational clips you put out.

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers Ian, you're most welcome 👍🏻

[@katjakoskelin9692]

Hello Kevin! Once again, great story, looking smart! 👍😁

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers!

[@brokenpines8491]

Thank you

[@paulspice4717]

Excellent as usual

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

School teachers, pay attention! THIS is how it's done. We love this channel, Mr. Hicks.

[@thehistorysquad]

Haha, cheers!!

[@johnwright9372]

Thank you!

[@thehistorysquad]

You're welcome!

[@patriciacourtier-rouse1173]

Have read about this. Quite remarkable storey. Read a book that took this Dr Snow's work and tracing methods to outline his success in pinpointing the Broad Street well as the source of the outbreak.

[@thehilligan]

Yep. Fascinating. The sad irony is that at the same time, hundreds of British soldiers, and their French allies were dying of cholera, Black Fever, etc in Varna, moderrn Bulgaria- before they even got to the Crimea. There are reports of some dying within hours, & one unfortunate, who arrived on the Tuesday, fell sick on the Wednesday, and was buried on the Thursday. General Orders show they had a rough understanding that water or food was involved, urging the men not eat fruit or vegetables, but they weren`t apparently exactly sure how.

[@adrielburned6924]

I always look forward to your videos!

[@thehistorysquad]

I appreciate that!

[@Vic-ng8if]

That was really interesting mate. Thanks.

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers Vic

[@oron61]

Imagine if we could send one message to the past: "Properly boiled water can't give you dysentry."

[@enemyofvirtue]

This channel is incredible! I learn something new every single video I watch from a man who obviously has done more than his fair share of research.

[@thehistorysquad]

Thank you 😊

[@girthygumbolini882]

Nooooo, I love it when Kevin says film instead of video! 😂😂

[@darkninjamandelta]

I remember this story, and having a good laugh about the people drinking beer.

[@Lassisvulgaris]

"Two beer, or not two beer; that is the question...." Shakesbeer

[@thehistorysquad]

😂

[@charlesdebarber2997]

Loving the channel and your enthusiasm for each topic. I love that John Snow pushed back against unscientific/anecdotal medicine and used controlled scientific analysis to trace the origin of the outbreak. He argued it with quantitative and qualitative data. Even the exceptions (e.g. the brewery, the woman out of the area that favored the Broadstreet Pump water) ended up proving the rule that the water was contaminated.

[@DBSSTEELER]

He did good work and stopping the disease outbreak. I think at this time germ theory was just beginning because people still died quite a lot from postoperative infections.

[@thehistorysquad]

Yes, that's right, it was

[@weatherthis8062]

Brilliant video as always 👏

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks again!

[@46templar]

Kev love your format aa it's not all about battles and warfare👍👍👍

[@thehistorysquad]

That's good to hear, thanks. We did wonder if having such a broad range of topics through history would be a good idea or whether we should have tried to narrow the niche, say to just medieval or whatever, but at the end of the day I just love talking about the history that engages me, in the hope that it will then engage others. 👍🏻

[@georgehopkins2069]

Interesting and informative. Also well presented. Very much enjoy the period costumes too.

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers George 👍🏻

[@PhinAI]

Nice chops!

[@michaelbeams9553]

I've always said water is dangerous . That's why I stick with beer .🍺🍺🍺 "Better safe , then sober"... that's my motto . Fascinating , a great video . Thank you .

[@scrappydoo7887]

You have a perfect Tudor point of view sir 👍

[@thehistorysquad]

Yes, absolutely 🍻 👍🏻

[@johnblackstock4092]

Divination of a Cesspit: Sorry I always thought that was Parliament House.

[@arthurdoucette1786]

Greetings once again from nova Scotia, thank you brother, I really enjoyed this video. I have heard other stories about this subject, and I very much enjoyed your telling. Thank you once again, be well. Arthur

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers Arthur, you too 👍🏻

[@KwadDamyj]

Ooooh yes, I first remember reading about this one in the book The Ghost Map! Fascinating stuff.

[@hemaccabe4292]

A great episode of history. I believe it was highlighted in the original Connections show.

[@billmonroe4552]

Thanks!

[@thehistorysquad]

Hey Bill, thanks for the SUPER, most kind of you. Glad you enjoyed the video 👍🏻

[@leoscheibelhut940]

The breath of your history knowledge is only exceeded by your story-telling ability!

[@thehistorysquad]

Thank you.

[@brightantwerp]

Your stories about London in the 1800s are horrific. It must have been such a bad place to live. Thanks for sharing. 💜

[@triffidgrower]

Very interesting yarn. A drinking water source three feet from a cesspit, eh? So much that we have had to learn...the hard way. Thanks for this clip.

[@Bob-el3iw]

Very interesting, thankyou 👋👋👋

[@joshuacrawford1255]

The sideburns are awesome

[@akpatriot6398]

Outstanding episode Kevin!

[@khlah0710]

The pump is still there outside The John SNOW Pub which has a photo of "the ghost"

[@jerrydempsey3490]

Always love your videos Kevin. Presented so well. One trivial question. Is the wall behind you real stone?

[@thehistorysquad]

Haha, no, it's a vinyl backdrop, I shoot these videos in my basement 👍🏻

[@hemaccabe4292]

You are the costume freaking genius Sir. I am in awe.

[@thehistorysquad]

🤣

[@RandOm-hr5jn]

Amazing content, just when I think I cannot possibly enjoy this channel more than I already am there comes the next and even more entertaining piece

[@thehistorysquad]

Wow, thanks!

[@Raycheetah]

This is one story I learned about in school, back in the days when schools taught real history and science. =^[.]^=

[@davidwood351]

Another interesting story. There are so many unsung heroes throughout history.

[@owenshale8719]

It just goes to show you that every time of of pandemic there are people who will step up and take on the challenge and fight the good fight and also there people who think they no better than when they don't think you Kevin

[@owenshale8719]

Have you watched house of dragons

[@garywebster8355]

Fantastic.

[@marcoengelbracht4141]

The believe of the "Miasma" was present everywhere and for a long time. Malaria is the same stuff, the word just means "Bad air", that simple. Mr. Snow was for sure a real scientiest, not just believing something but investigating until he came to the right conclusion. You honor him by keeping his story alive. People like him should never be forgotten as they still an example for how scientists should work.

[@thehistorysquad]

A great comment Marco, thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@DetroitMicroSound]

Good one Kevin! Important history lesson! Are you a Time Team fan? You must be, right? I have been, for years. Tony is returning for the occasional dig. I sure hope somebody convinces Phil to come back to the team. They are really making a big effort to do it all, on KZbin. Might be something you could contribute to Time Team.......Would be great to see you on an episode.

[@thehistorysquad]

Haha, thanks. I don't think they'd be interested in me. Might be a bit tricky too now seen as I'm in Canada. 👍🏻

[@DetroitMicroSound]

@@thehistorysquad Never say never, Kev. I think you have expertise to contribute, in a range of areas.

[@DetroitMicroSound]

@@thehistorysquad Never say never, Kev. I think you have expertise to contribute, in a range of areas.

[@willychimp]

Kevin! Dang what mad sideburns you have, the groundhog did see it’s shadow… so those burns will keep you warm

[@oneshotme]

Kinda enjoyed your video LOL and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@thehistorysquad]

I appreciate that 😜