On chloroform and other anæsthetics: their action and administration — John Shaqi
On chloroform and other anæsthetics: their action and administrationSnow, John
History
On chloroform and other anæsthetics: their action and administration
Snow, John
Anesthetics; Chloroform; Snow, John, 1813-1858
amongst those who held up the labours of our friend to ridicule, or
passed them over in contemptuous silence, have, indeed, since modified
their opinions, and have either tacitly accepted his facts, or have done
far worse by attempting to put them forward as though they were the work
of no single man, or of some one unknown, or as though their connection
with a theory destroyed the originality of the facts themselves. It was
my privilege, during the life of Dr. Snow, to stand on his side. It is
now my duty, in his death, as a biographer who feels that his work will
not be lost, to claim for him not only the entire originality of the
theory of the communication of cholera by the direct introduction of the
excreted cholera poison into the alimentary system; but, independently
of that theory, the entire originality of the discovery of a connection
between impure water supply and choleraic disease. The whole of his
inquiries in regard to cholera were published in 1855, in the second
edition of his work on the “Mode of Communication of Cholera”—a work in
the preparation and publication of which he spent more than £200 in hard
cash, and realized in return scarcely so many shillings.
In 1856, he made a visit to Paris in company with his uncle, Mr. Empson,
who having personally known the present Emperor many years, had on this
occasion special imperial favours shown to him, in which the nephew
participated. During the visit, Dr. Snow lodged a copy of his work on
Cholera at the “Institute”, in competition for the prize of £1,200
offered for the discovery of a means for preventing or curing the
disease. The decision of the judges has since been published, but no
note seems to have been made of Dr. Snow’s researches.
The Medical Society of London, reformed under that name in 1849–50, by
amalgamation with the Westminster Medical, was at this time the
principal scene of Dr. Snow’s scientific exertions. In 1852, the Society
elected him as Orator for the ensuing year; and at the eightieth
anniversary of the Society, held on March the 8th, at the Thatched House
Tavern, he delivered an admirable oration on “Continuous Molecular
Changes, more particularly in their Relation to Epidemic Diseases.” He
made no claim to the orator’s gown; but the address was too forcible and
first class not to call forth the enthusiasm of the audience. It was
admirably received; and few of us who were present on that interesting
occasion will forget the simple and genuine earnestness of our beloved
associate, as in the twinkling twilight he carried us along with the
smooth current of his thoughts. He spent nearly twelve months in the
preparation of this oration. It was intended to convey, in the most
pleasing manner at his command, a broad view of his observations on the
communication of certain spreading diseases. He advanced, on this
occasion, the idea that intermittent fever, and perhaps yellow fever,
are, like cholera, carried by their poisons direct into the alimentary
system.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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