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Cholera In The 19th Century

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Cholera In The 19th Century
In the mid-19th century, a deadly epidemic cholera had infected many citizens of Victorian London as well as taking their lives. Cholera is a bacteria disease that infects the stomach, which causes diarrhea and dehydration, usually contracted through the consumption of dirty water. According to the topic of medicine in the 19th century discussed in the 2015 lecture in Introduction to European history by Dr. Chelsea Shields-Más; both John Snow and Henry Whitehead made major impacts on the perceptions of disease in the later part of the century. The cholera epidemic of 1854 is a reflection of common problems bred by the people in Victorian London before the spread of cholera. The inhabitants of London live in overcrowded and unsanitary households, which could lead to the spread of disease and bacterial infections. Incorrect methods of waste removal are also another problem in Victorian London, the infrastructure of London sewage system during that time did not properly remove waste. The sewage system …show more content…
As discussed in the 2015 lecture in Introduction to European history by Dr. Chelsea Shields-Más, having to have created the water-borne theory as well as disprove the miasma theory . These lead to many modern concepts of medicine because of John Snow’s work of investigating the source of the cholera epidemic. John Snow disproved a theory that was fueled by Superstition was struck down by a more logical and scientific theory, which was a catalyst for predecessors take up the same approach that john snow used to find and end the cholera epidemic.
Cholera was a very dangerous epidemic, but it would have been mitigated if science and not superstition were taken to account to reach the source of the epidemic. John Snow and Henry Whitehead’s efforts saved many lives in London as well as shaped the medical world society have

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