How Beer Helped Stop the Cholera Epidemic in London 1854
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In 1854, a severe cholera epidemic broke out in London, known as the Broad Street Cholera Outbreak. The disease claimed 616 lives, mainly in the Soho district. But how did the physician John Snow uncover the cause of the epidemic? Surprisingly, beer played a crucial role.
Competing Theories on Cholera Transmission
At that time, there were two prevailing theories on how cholera was transmitted: The miasma theory suggested that "bad air" caused by decomposition processes led to the disease. The germ theory, on the other hand, assumed that an unknown germ was transmitted through contaminated water. John Snow was an advocate of the germ theory.
John Snow's Investigation and the Water Pump on Broad Street
During his investigation of the cholera cases in Soho, Snow noticed that almost all the victims lived near the water pump on Broad Street. A map with marked deaths supported his theory that this pump was the cause. Snow convinced the parish council to remove the pump handle. The number of new cases then dropped dramatically.
Why the Brewery Workers Were Spared
However, there was an astonishing exception: Of the 535 employees of the brewery on Poland Street, only 5 contracted cholera - even though the brewery was right next to the epidemic's center. The reason: The workers mainly drank beer from their own brewery, which was brewed with clean spring water. The water used in the brewery was also boiled during the brewing process and was therefore germ-free.
The Dirty Diaper as the Trigger
But where did the cholera pathogens in the Broad Street pump come from? Reverend Henry Whitehead discovered this: In a house on Broad Street, a baby had contracted cholera. The mother washed the diapers and poured the washing water into a cesspool just a few meters away from the pump. From there, the germs entered the groundwater and the pump.
Conclusion: Beer as an Unexpected Lifesaver
John Snow's investigation and Henry Whitehead's findings were able to prove the transmission of cholera through contaminated drinking water. This laid the foundation for the germ theory and better hygiene measures. But of all things, beer, which was germ-free thanks to clean brewing water and boiling, saved many brewery workers from infection and thus supported John Snow's theory. An unexpected ally in the fight against the cholera epidemic.
