What was the scientific contribution of John Snow?

Answer 1

John Snow is often regarded as a pioneer of modern epidemiology due to his work during the cholera outbreak in London in 1854. He mapped cases of cholera and identified a contaminated public water pump on Broad Street as the source of the outbreak, demonstrating the link between water supply and disease transmission. His meticulous approach to data collection and analysis laid the groundwork for the use of statistical methods in public health and helped shift the understanding of disease causation from miasma theory to the importance of sanitation and hygiene. Snow's work ultimately contributed to the development of modern public health practices and urban planning.