In 1831, an unknown, horrifying and deadly disease from Asia swept across Continental Europe, killing millions in its path and throwing the medical profession into confusion. Cholera is a killer with little respect for class or wealth. When it arrived in Britain, its repercussions rocked Victorian England - from the filthy lanes of the Sunderland quayside and the squalid streets of Soho, to the great centres of power: the Privy Council, Whitehall and, the Royal Medical Colleges. One man - alone and unrecognised - uncovered the truth behind the pandemic and laid the foundations for the modern, scientific investigation of today's fatal plagues. John Snow was a reclusive doctor, without money or social position, who had the genius to look beyond the conventional wisdom of his day, and work out that cholera was spread through drinking water. The book draws extensively on 19th century medical, political and personal records in order to describe what is both an important breakthrough for medical science and also a dramatic story with a cast of colourful characters, from the heroic to the frighteningly incompetent. The book is also full of fascinating diversions into aspects of medical and social history - from Snow's tending of Queen Victoria in childbirth, to the Dutch microbiologist Leeuwenhoek's deliberately breeding of lice in his socks; and, from Dickensian children's farms to riotous 19th century anaesthesia parties.
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
* 'Ripping yarns from the dawn of proper medicine' Ben Goldacre, Guardian
About the Author
Sandra Hempel is a journalist and copy writer who has written for The Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian and The Mail on Sunday, as well as for the Department of Health and the NHS. She lives in London with her two daughters.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
There are no customer reviews yet.
|
|||
|
Video reviews
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
(learn more)
common cholera, cholera deaths, open reservoirs, cholera patients, cholera morbus, cholera hospital Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
John Snow, Broad Street, Albion Terrace, Board of Health, Old Ford, Privy Council, Royal College of Physicians, East End, Sir Benjamin, Henry Whitehead, Berwick Street, Sir Henry, East London, Lea Bridge, William Farr, Edwin Chadwick, Home Secretary, South Row, James Andrews, Arthur Hill Hassall, Westminster Medical Society, The Times, Bateman's Buildings, Thomas Wakley, Poland Street Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
common cholera, cholera deaths, open reservoirs, cholera patients, cholera morbus, cholera hospital Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
John Snow, Broad Street, Albion Terrace, Board of Health, Old Ford, Privy Council, Royal College of Physicians, East End, Sir Benjamin, Henry Whitehead, Berwick Street, Sir Henry, East London, Lea Bridge, William Farr, Edwin Chadwick, Home Secretary, South Row, James Andrews, Arthur Hill Hassall, Westminster Medical Society, The Times, Bateman's Buildings, Thomas Wakley, Poland Street Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
Look for Similar Items by Category
- Books > History > Europe > England
- Books > Medical Books > Medicine > Internal Medicine
