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Stream 1 - Introduction


d: John Snow's Publications


During his short but active life, Snow contributed 126 publications (including many letters to the editors and various reports) to the public, professional and scientific literature. In 15 file groups of 1-15 (color coded), almost all of the publications are presented in full format while two anesthesia books appear in PDF format (), linked directly to the file. Many of Snow's writings come from John Snow Archive and Research Companion of Michigan State University with the permission of Associate Professor Emeritus of History Peter Vinten-Johansen, lead author of the definitive book on John Snow, Cholera, Chloroform and the Science of Medicine: A Life of John Snow, 2003; and editor of a resource book on John Snow for teachers and students of history, public  health and epidemiology: Investigating Cholera in Broad Street - A History in Documents, 2020.        



two book covers, Peter Vinten-Johansen

QUICK INDEX

Group 1   red linkage dot (#1-15)    

Group 2   green linkage dot (#16-30)

Group 3   Orange box (#31-45)

Group 4   Blue box (#46-60)

Group 5   Pink box (#61-74)

Group 6   yello box (#75)          

Group 7   Purple box (#76-86)

Group 8   Coffee dot (#87a)    

Group 9  Tiel dot (#87b)    

Group 10   Lt purple dot (#87c)     

Group 11   off red dot(#87d)          

Group 12   aqua dot (#88-102)   

Group 13   Silver dot (#103-113)

Group 14   Fusia dot (#114-125)

Group 15   Green-black dot (#126)        


1838 (age 25)


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1. Response to: "Arsenic as a preservative of dead bodies." Lancet, 10 November 1838, p. 264 [Letter to Ed.]

1839 (age 26)


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2. Response to: "Action of recti muscles," London Medical Gazette, 12 January 1839, pp. 559-60 [Letter to Ed.].

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3. Response to: "Mechanism of respiration," Lancet, 26 January 1839, pp. 653-55, [Letter to Ed.].

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4. Response to: "On the bands in the recti muscles," London Medical Gazette 9 February 1839, pp. 719-20 [Letter to Ed.].

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Irritation with Snow

John Snow wrote a fifth Letter to the Editor in 1839 in response to an article in The Lancet (i.e., M.H. "Note on respiration and asphyxia", 4 May 1839, p. 240). This same article was commented on by four other correspondents. Thomas Wakely, the influential founding Editor of The Lancet published a note on 25 May 1839 to the five correspondents that included specific comments about John Snow:

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"To Correspondents . . . . . . . The remarks of Mr. John Snow on a recent communication from M. H., on the physiology of respiration, have been received. We cannot help thinking that Mr. Snow might better employ himself in producing something, than in criticizing the productions of others." Follow this public rebuke, there were no more Letters to the Editor from John Snow until after he had published multiple subject-matter articles.

The irritation of Thomas Wakeley with John Snow remained until Snow's death in 1858, extending to both fields of anestheseology and epidemiology. A 2002 article in Anesthesia by Sir Peter Froggatt offers insights into the issues and into the characteristics of the two men.


1841 (age 28)


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5.  "On distortions of the chest and spine in children from enlargement of the abdomen."  London Med. Gazette, vol. 28, 9 April 1841, pp. 112-116.
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6. On asphyxia, and on the resuscitation of still-born children. London Med. Gazette, vol. 29, 5 November  1841, pp. 222-227.

1842 (age 29)

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7.  "On paracentesis of the thorax."    London Med. Gazette 29,  28 January 1842, pp. 705-707.

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8.  Response to: "Uterine haemorrhage, with retention of the placenta" London Medical Gazette, 11 November 1842, 224-25 [Letter to Ed.].

1843 (age 30)

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9.  "On the circulation in the capillary blood-vessels, and on some of its connections with pathology & therapeutics."  London Med. Gazette31, 3 March 1843, pp. 810-816.
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10. "A new kind of pessary" London Medical Gazette 7 April 1843, p. 100 [Letter to Ed.].

1844 (age 31 - graduated with MD degree)

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11.   "Case of acute poisoning by carbonate of lead."  London Med. Gazette 35, 22 November 1844, pp. 248-250.

1845 (age 32)

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12.   "Case of malignant or haemorrhagic small-pox." London Med. Gazette 35, 31 January 1845, pp. 585-86 [Letter to Ed.].
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13.  "Pericarditis after scarlet-fever," London Medical Gazette 35, 7 March 1845, pp. 728-29 [Letter to Ed.].

1846 (age 33)

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14. "On the pathological effects of atmospheres vitiated by carbonic acid gas, and by a diminution of the due proportion of oxygen," Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal1 January 1846, pp. 49-56.
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15. "On the use of the term 'Allopathy'," Lancet 1, 21 February 1846, p. 229 [Letter to Ed.].

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16. "Alkalescent urine and phosphatic calculi," London Medical Gazette 38, 20 November 1846, pp. 877-880.

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17. "Case of strangulation of the ileum in an aperture of the mesentery," London Med. Gazette 38, 18 December 1846, pp. 1049-1052.

1847 (age 34)

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18. "Table on the quantity of vapour of ether in 100 cubic inches of air, saturated with it at various temperatures," Medical Times 15, 23 January 1847, p. 325.
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19. "Table of the quantity of the vapour of ether ," London Medical Gazette 39, 29 January 1847, pp. 219-220.

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20. "Table of the quantity of the vapour of ether in one hundred cubic inches of air, saturated with it at various temperatures," The Pharmaceutical Journal 6, 1 February 1847, p. 361.
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21-22. "On the inhalation of the vapor of ether." London Med. Gazette 39, 19 March 1847, pp. 498-502, 26 March 1847, pp. 539-542.
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23. "On the inhalation of the vapour of ether," British and Foreign Medical Review 23 (April 1847): 573-76, [Note: contains extracts from article #22, i.e. in LMG 39, 26 March 1847, 539-542.]
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24.   "To the editor of the Pharmaceutical Journal," The Pharmaceutical Journal 6, 1 April 1847, pp. 474-475 [Letter to Ed.].
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25. "A lecture on the inhalation of vapour of ether in surgical operations," Lancet 1, 29 May 1847, pp. 551-54.

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26. "On deformity of the chest in children," Lancet 2, 31 July 1847, p. 137.[Letter to Ed.].

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27.  "On the inhalation of the vapor of ether in surgical operations: containing a description of the various stages of etherization and a statement of the result of nearly eighty operations in which ether has been employed in St. George's and University College Hospitals. London," J. Churchill, Oct. 1847, 88 pages.  (PDF only)
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28. "Dr. Snow on the effects of ether vapour," London Medical Gazette 40, 12 November 1847, p. 859, [Letter to Ed.].

1848 (age 35)

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29.  "On the inhalation of chloroform and ether, with description of an apparatus." The Lancet, 12 February 1848, pp. 177-180. 

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30. "Remarks on the fatal case of inhalation of chloroform; including additional explanations from Dr. Meggison" London Med. Gazette 41, 18 February 1848, pp. 277-278.

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31."The fatal chloroform case at Newcastle," Lancet 1 , 26 February 1848, p. 239 [Letter to Ed.].

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32. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors," London Med. Gazette 41, 19 May 1848, pp. 850-54 (part 1).

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33. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors." London Med. Gazette 41, 26 May 1848, pp. 893-95 (part 2).

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34. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors." London Med. Gazette 41, 23 June 1848, pp. 1074-78 (part 3).

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35. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors." London Med. Gazette 42, 25 August 1848, pp. 330-35 (part 4).

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36. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors." London Med. Gazette 42, 8 September 1848, pp. 412-16 (part 5).

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37.  "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors." London Med. Gazette 42, 13 October 1848, pp. 614-619 (part 6).

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38.  "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors." London Med. Gazette 42, 17 November 1848, pp. 840-844 (part 7).

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39.  "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors." London Med. Gazette 42, 15 December 1848, pp. 1021-25 (part 8).

1849 (age 36)

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40."On the use of chloroform in surgical operations and midwifery."  London Jour. Med 1, January 1849, pp. 50-55.

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41. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors." London Med. Gazette 43, 9 February 1849, pp. 228-35 (part 9).

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42. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors." London Med. Gazette 43, 16 March 1849, pp. 451-56 (part 10).

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43. "On the discussion respecting chloroform, in the Academie de Medecine de Paris." London Journal of Medicine 1, April 1849, pp. 324-326.

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44. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors." London Med. Gazette 43, 8 June 1849, pp. 983-85 (part 11).

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45. "On the fatal cases of inhalation of chloroform." Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal 72, 1 July 1849, pp. 75-87.

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46. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors." London Med. Gazette 44, 17 August 1849, pp. 272-77 (part 12).

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47. "On the mode of communication of cholera." London: John Churchill, Princess Street, Soho, , September 1849, 31 pp.

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48."The cholera at Albion Terrace." London Med. Gazette 44, 15 Sepember 1849, 504-05. [Letter to Ed.].

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49-50. "On the pathology and mode of communication of cholera." London Med. Gazette 44, 2 November 1849, pp. 745-752, 30 November 1849, pp. 923-929.

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51. "The alleged employment of chloroform by thieves." London Med. Gazette 45, 26 February 1850, p. 327, [Letter to Ed.].

1850 (age 37)

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52. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors." London Med. Gazette45, 12 April 1850, pp. 622-27 (part 13).

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53. "On the treatment of inflammation of the skin." Lancet 1, 27 April 1850, pp. 502-03, [Letter to Ed.].

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54. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors." London Med. Gazette 46, 23 August 1850, pp. 321-27 (part 14).

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55. "Remarks on the administration of chloroform, in answer to Professor Lizars." Medical Times 22, 31 August 1850, pp. 228-31, [Letter to Ed.].

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56. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapors." London Med. Gazette 46, 1 November 1850, pp. 749-54 (part 15).

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57. "Further remarks on the employment of chloroform by thieves." London Med. Gazette 46, 15 November 1850, pp. 834-835 [Letter to Ed.].

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58. "Dr. Snow on chloroform." Medical Times, 22, 14 December 1850, p. 635, [Letter to Ed.].

1851 (age 38)

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59. "On the inhalation of various medicinal substances." London Jour. Med. 3, 1 February 1851, pp. 122-129.

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60. "A Letter to the Right Honourable Lord Campbell, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench, on the Clause Respecting Chloroform in the Proposed Prevention of Offences Bill." Wilson and Ogilvy, 57 Skinner Street, Snowhill, London, 5 March 1851 [an open letter published as a pamphlet].

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61. "Lord Campbell's chloroform clause." Medical Times 2, 22 March 1851), p. 325, [Letter to Ed.].

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62. "Chloroform, and its use by thieves." London Med. Gazette 47, 28 March 1851, p. 571, [Letter to Ed.].

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63. "Letter to the Right Honourable Lord Campbell, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench, on the clause respecting Chloroform in the proposed "Prevention of Offences Bill."," London Journal of Medicine 3, 1 April 1851, pp. 353-56, [Extracts from Snow's open letter, sent and published by Lord Campbell et al. the prior month].

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64. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapours." London Med. Gazette 47, 11 April 1851, pp. 622-27 (Part 16).

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65-66. "On the mode of propagation of cholera." Medical. Times3, 29 November 1851, pp. 559-562 (Part 1), 13 December 1851, pp. 610-612 (Part 2).

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67. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapours." London Med. Gazette 48, 19 December 1851, pp. 1053-57 (part 17).

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68. "On narcotism by the inhalation of vapours." London Med. Gazette 48, 26 December 1851, pp. 1090-94 (part 18).

1852 (age 39 - moved to Sackville Street)

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69. "On the administration of chloroform in the public hospitals." Medical Times Gazette 4, 3 April 1852,[Letter to Ed.].

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70-72. "On the cause and prevention of death from chloroform." London Jour. Med. 4, Apr. 1852, pp. 320-329 (part 1); May 1852, pp. 415-423 (part 2); and June 1852, pp. 564-572 (part 3).

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73. "Deaths from chloroform in Scotland." Medical Times Gazette 4, 12 June 1852, pp. 598-99. [Letter to Ed.].

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74. "Deaths from chloroform in a case of fatty degeneration of the heart, " Med. Times and Gazette 5, 9 October 1852, pp. 361-362.

1853 (age 40)

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75. "On continuous molecular changes, more particularly in their relation to epidemic diseases." London, J. Churchill, March, 1853, 37 pp 

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76. "On the administration of chloroform during parturition." Assoc. Med. Jour. 1, 10 June 1853, pp. 500-502.

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77. "On the prevention of cholera." Med. Times and Gazette 7, 8 October 1853, pp. 367-369.

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78. "The late deaths from chloroform." Med. Times and Gazette 7, 5 November 1853, pp. 485-86. [Letter to Ed.].

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79. "The water supply at Newcastle." Times  , 11 November 1853, p. 8, column D,  [Letter to Ed.].

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80. "The principles on which the treatment of cholera should be based." Med. Times and Gazette 8, 25 Febuary 1854, pp. 180-182.

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81. "On the recent death at St. George's Hospital, while the patient was beginning to inhale chloroform." Medical Times and Gazette 8, 10 June 1854, p. 606, [Letter to Ed.].

1854 (age 41 - Broad Street Pump Outbreak and "Grand Experiment")

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82. "Cholera in the Baltic Fleet." Medical Times and Gazette 9, 12 August 1854, p. 170. [Letter to Ed.].

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83. "Communication of cholera by Thames water." Med. Times and Gazette 9, 2 September 1854, pp. 247-248.

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84.  "The cholera near Golden Square and at Deptford." Med. Times and Gazette 9, 23 September 1854, pp. 321-322, [Letter to Ed.].

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85. "On the communication of cholera by impure Thames water." Med. Times and Gazette 9, 7 October 1854, pp. 365-366.

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86. "On the comparative mortality of large towns and rural districts, and the causes by which it is influenced." Transactions of the Epidemiological Society. Journal of Public Health and Sanitary Review 1, 1855, pp. 16-24. [Paper delivered 2 May 1853].

1855 (age 42 - "Grand Experiment")

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87a. "On the mode of communication of cholera." 2nd edition, much enlarged. London, J. Churchill, 1855, 162 pp. [Part 1, pp. 1-38]

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87b. "On the mode of communication of cholera." 2nd edition, much enlarged. London, J. Churchill, 1855, 162 pp. [Part 2, pp. 38-55]

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87c. "On the mode of communication of cholera." 2nd edition, much enlarged. London, J. Churchill, 1855, 162 pp. [Part 3, pp. 55-98]

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87d. "On the mode of communication of cholera." 2nd edition, much enlarged. London, J. Churchill, 1855, 162 pp. [Part 4, pp. 98-139, plus full Appendix]

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88. "Chloroform in London and Edinburgh," Lancet 1, 27 January 1855, pp. 108-09, [Letter to Ed.].

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89. "Testimony before the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Public Health Bill and Nuisances Removal Amendment Act on 5 March 1855." Published much later in British Parliamentary Papers 8, Shannon, Ireland: Irish University Press, 1970.

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90. "On the chief cause of the recent sickness and mortality in the Crimea," Medical Times and Gazette 10, 12 May 1855, pp. 457-58 .

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91. "Dr. Snow's Report," in the Report on the Cholera Outbreak in the Parish of St. James, Westminster, during the Autumn of 1854, pp. 97-120, London: Churchill, July 1855.

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92. "The case of fissure of the sternum," Lancet 2, 7 July 1855, p.17 [Letter to Ed.].

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93. "Letter to the right honourable Sir Benjamin Hall, Bart., President of the General Board of Health," London: Churchill, 12 July 1855.

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94. "Further remarks on the mode of communication of cholera; including some comments on the recent reports on cholera by the General Board of Health," Medical Times and Gazette 11, 14 July 1855, pp.31-35. Part 1. A substantial portion of this essay was first read at the London Epidemiological Society in May and June, 1855.

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95. "Further remarks on the mode of communication of cholera; including some comments on the recent reports on cholera by the General Board of Health," Medical Times and Gazette 11, 28 July 1855, pp. 84-88. Part 2.

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96. "On the employment of chloroform in surgical operations," Lancet 2, 20 October 1855, pp. 361-63., Part 1.

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97. "On the employment of chloroform in surgical operations," Lancet 2, 27 October 1855, pp. 383-85, Part 2.

1856 (age 43)

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98. "On the mode of communication of cholera," Edinburgh Medical Journal 1, January 1856, pp. 668-70, [Letter to Ed.].

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99. "Further remarks on the cause and prevention of death from chloroform," Lancet 1, 9 February 1856, pp. 148-50.

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100. "The mode of propagation of cholera," Association Medical Journal 4, 16 February 1856, [Letter to Ed.].

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101. "The mode of propagation of cholera," Lancet 1, 16 February 1856, p. 184 [Letter to Ed.].

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102. "Case of purpura hemorrhagica," Association Medical Journal 4, 3 May 1856, pp. 364-65 [Letter to Ed.].

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103. "Chloroform," Medical Times and Gazette 12, 21 June 1856, pp. 680-81 [Letter to Ed.].

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104. "Cholera and the water supply," Times 26 June 1856, p. 12, col. B, [Letter to Ed.].

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105. "Administration of chloroform," Medical Times and Gazette 13, 5 July 1856, p. 21, [Letter to Ed.].

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106. "On the supposed influence of offensive trades on mortality," Lancet 2, 26 July 1856, pp. 95-97.[Letter to Ed.].

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107. "Cholera and the water supply in the south districts of London in 1854," Journal of Public Health and Sanitary Review 2, October 1856, pp. 239-57.

1857 (age 44)

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108. "On the vapour of amylene," Medical Times and Gazette 14, 17 January 1857, pp. 60-62. Part 1.

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109. "On the vapour of amylene," Medical Times and Gazette 14, 24 January 1857, pp. 82-84. Part 2.

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110. "On the recent accident from chloroform," Medical Times and Gazette 14, 21 March 1857, pp. 282-83.

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111. "Further remarks on amylene," Medical Times and Gazette 14, 4 April 1857, pp. 332-34. Part 1.

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112. "Further remarks on amylene," Medical Times and Gazette 14, 11 April 1857, pp. 357-59. Part 2.

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113. "Further remarks on amylene," Medical Times and Gazette 14, 18 April 1857, pp. 379-82. Part 3.

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114. "Dr. Marshall Hall's method of artificial respiration," Medical Times and Gazette 14, 25 April 1857, p. 421 [Letter to Ed.].

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115. "On some alleged ill effects of amylene," British Medical Journal 1, 2 May 1857, p. 381 [Letter to Ed.].

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116. "On chloride of amyle," Medical Times and Gazette 14, 9 May 1857, p. 457 [Letter to Ed.].

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117."On the adulteration of bread as a cause of rickets," Lancet, July 4, 1857, pp. 4-5.

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118. "Cholera, and the water supply in the south districts of London," British Medical Journal 2, 17 October 1857, pp. 864-65 [Letter to Ed.].

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119. "On the outbreak of cholera at Abbey-Row, West Ham," Medical Times and Gazette 15, 24 October 1857, pp. 417-19.

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120. "On the origin of the recent outbreak of cholera at West Ham," British Medical Journal 2, 7 November 1857, pp.934-35 [Letter to Ed.].

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121. "On the case of congenital fissure of the sternum," Medical Times and Gazette 15, 28 November 1857, p. 561 [Letter to Ed.].

1858 (age 45 - year of death)

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122. "Drainage and water supply in connexion with the public health," Medical Times and Gazette 16, 13 February 1858, pp. 161-63, Part 1.

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123. "Drainage and water supply in connexion with the public health," Medical Times and Gazette 16, 20 February 1858, pp. 188-91, Part 2.

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124. "The recent death from chloroform at Bristol," British Medical Journal 1, 20 March 1858, pp. 223-25.

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125. "Death from chloroform ," British Medical Journal 3 April 1858, p. 279 [Letter to the Ed.]

Posthumously (edited by B.J. Richardson)


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126. "On Chloroform and other Anesthetics: their Actions and Administration," by John Snow M.D., with a Memoir of the Author by Benjamin W. Richardson, M.D., London: John Churchill, New Burlington Street, 1858.)

Sources:

Snow J. Snow on Cholera -- A Reprint of Two Papers by John Snow, M.D. together with A Biographical Memoir by B.W. Richardson, M.D., and an Introduction by Wade Hampton Frost, M.D., Hafner Publishing Company, London, 1965.

The John Snow Archive and Research Companion, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 2006- 2025.


Click to continue to Stream 1 -  e: Memoir of his friend Benjamin Ward Richardson"