Newsletter: June 2008

Mapping the 1854 Broad Street Pump Cholera Outbreak

John Snow memorial and public house

In 1854, a cholera outbreak occurred in London. Dr. John Snow plotted the cases of cholera on a map of the city (see maps) and was able to identify the water pump in Broad Street as the source of the disease.

Dr. Snow used his map to convince the local council to remove the handle of the pump, preventing further spread of cholera. The outbreak stopped.

In his own words: "The most terrible outbreak of cholera which ever occurred in this Kingdom, is probably that which took place in Broad Street...a few weeks ago. Within two hundred and fifty yards of the spot where Cambridge Street joins Broad Street, there were upwards of five hundred fatal attacks of cholera in ten days.

"...As soon as I became acquainted with the situation...I suspected some contamination of the water of the much-frequented street-pump in Broad Street...I requested permission, therefore, to take a list, at the General Register Office of the deaths from cholera... I found that nearly all the death had taken place within a short distance of the pump...I had an interview with the Board of Guardians of St James parish... In consequence of what I said, the handle of the pump was removed on the following day."

Dr. Snow is considered one of the founders of epidemiology, although his "germ" theory of disease was not widely accepted until the 1860's. We consider Dr. Snow the inspiration for our Haiti Clean Water Campaign and have adopted the pump with no handle as our logo. Like him, we work to convince local water boards to guard the public's health.

Original map by Dr. John Snow showing the clusters of cholera cases in the London epidemic of 1854

Original map by Dr. John Snow showing the clusters of cholera cases in the London epidemic of 1854

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