SNOW, John (1813-1858). On the Mode of Communication of Cholera . London: Wilson and Ogilvy for John Churchill, 1849.
SNOW, John (1813-1858). On the Mode of Communication of Cholera . London: Wilson and Ogilvy for John Churchill, 1849. 8 o (203 x 130 mm). 16 leaves. Half-title. Modern half morocco. Provenance : Wellcome Library (inkstamps including withdrawal stamp); Haskell F. Norman (bookplate; his sale Christie's New York, 29 October 1998, lot 1305). RARE FIRST EDITION OF SNOW'S FIRST PUBLISHED WORK ON CHOLERA. "In a classic of medical detective work, On the Mode of Communication of Cholera , John Snow described--with an eloquent and precise language of evidence, number and comparison--the severe epidemic: 'The most terrible outbreak of cholera which ever occurred in this kingdom, is probably that which took place in Broad Street, Golden Square, and adjoining streets, a few weeks ago, Within two hundred and fifty yars of the spot where Cambridge Street joins Broad Street, there were upwards of five hundred fatal attacks of cholera in ten days. The mortality in this limited area probably equals any that was ever caused in this country, even by the plague; and it was much more sudden, as the greater number of cases terminated in a few hours. The mortality would undoubtedly have been much greater had it not been for the flight of the population...'" (Snow, quoted in Tufte, Visual Explanations , p.27). Snow's investigations of the disease were prompted by the London cholera epidemic of 1831-1832. In this brief pamphlet he first voiced his theory that cholera is an infectious disease of the alimentary canal and is transmitted through the ingestion of fecal matter from infected patients, mainly through contaminated water. Snow provided evidence for his theory by correlating data on a large number of cholera outbreaks with information on their local supplies. His proposition, developed at length in a series of journal articles, met with opposition from physicians who still subscribed to the traditional "miasma" theory of infection. "Why was the centuries-old mystery of cholera finally solved? Most importantly, Snow had a good idea -- a causal theory about how the disease spread--that guided the gathering and assessment of evidence. This theory developed from medical analysis and empirical observation; by mapping earlier epidemics, Snow detected a link between different water supplies and varying rates of cholera (to the consternation of private water companies who anonymously denounced Snow's work)... Along with a good idea and a timely problem, there was a good method . Snow's scientific detective work exhibits a shrewd intelligence about evidence, a clear logic of data display and analysis" (Tufte, Visual Explanations , p.29). All of Snow's early publications on cholera are EXTREMELY RARE: this is the only copy to appear in American BookPrices Current in at least 30 years. Norman 1968.
SNOW, John (1813-1858). On the Mode of Communication of Cholera . London: Wilson and Ogilvy for John Churchill, 1849.
SNOW, John (1813-1858). On the Mode of Communication of Cholera . London: Wilson and Ogilvy for John Churchill, 1849. 8 o (203 x 130 mm). 16 leaves. Half-title. Modern half morocco. Provenance : Wellcome Library (inkstamps including withdrawal stamp); Haskell F. Norman (bookplate; his sale Christie's New York, 29 October 1998, lot 1305). RARE FIRST EDITION OF SNOW'S FIRST PUBLISHED WORK ON CHOLERA. "In a classic of medical detective work, On the Mode of Communication of Cholera , John Snow described--with an eloquent and precise language of evidence, number and comparison--the severe epidemic: 'The most terrible outbreak of cholera which ever occurred in this kingdom, is probably that which took place in Broad Street, Golden Square, and adjoining streets, a few weeks ago, Within two hundred and fifty yars of the spot where Cambridge Street joins Broad Street, there were upwards of five hundred fatal attacks of cholera in ten days. The mortality in this limited area probably equals any that was ever caused in this country, even by the plague; and it was much more sudden, as the greater number of cases terminated in a few hours. The mortality would undoubtedly have been much greater had it not been for the flight of the population...'" (Snow, quoted in Tufte, Visual Explanations , p.27). Snow's investigations of the disease were prompted by the London cholera epidemic of 1831-1832. In this brief pamphlet he first voiced his theory that cholera is an infectious disease of the alimentary canal and is transmitted through the ingestion of fecal matter from infected patients, mainly through contaminated water. Snow provided evidence for his theory by correlating data on a large number of cholera outbreaks with information on their local supplies. His proposition, developed at length in a series of journal articles, met with opposition from physicians who still subscribed to the traditional "miasma" theory of infection. "Why was the centuries-old mystery of cholera finally solved? Most importantly, Snow had a good idea -- a causal theory about how the disease spread--that guided the gathering and assessment of evidence. This theory developed from medical analysis and empirical observation; by mapping earlier epidemics, Snow detected a link between different water supplies and varying rates of cholera (to the consternation of private water companies who anonymously denounced Snow's work)... Along with a good idea and a timely problem, there was a good method . Snow's scientific detective work exhibits a shrewd intelligence about evidence, a clear logic of data display and analysis" (Tufte, Visual Explanations , p.29). All of Snow's early publications on cholera are EXTREMELY RARE: this is the only copy to appear in American BookPrices Current in at least 30 years. Norman 1968.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
