John Snow's Published Writings

(actual papers, not minutes or abstracts written by others)

Snow, John. Teetotal speech. Thomas Snow, ed., "Doctor's Teetotal Address Delivered in 1836," British Temperance Advocate (November 1888): 182, (January 1889): 20–21. Transcribed from Spence Galbraith, "Dr. John Snow (1813–1858). His early years," appendix 2, Journal of the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene (in press).

----. "Arsenic As a Preservative of Dead Bodies." Lancet 1 (1838–39): 264. [Ltr. to ed, dated 5 Nov., 58[sic?] Frith–street, Soho; MRCS; issue of 10 November 1838. Rejoinder to an article in previous issue, recommending the preservation of bodies for dissecting by injecting arsenious acid. Thinks this practice "highly dangerous" because it exposes "dissector to breathe an atmosphere contaminated with arsenuretted hydrogen." Details own experiences at the school in Great Windmill–street, incl. carrying out Hunter Lane's suggestion that he had read in a foreign journal, and one student becomes ill with bowel complaints. Summer 1837, five of six dissectors become ill during very hot weather and bodies in advanced state of decomposition; peculiar odor given off. N.B. Suspected arsenic, but could find no evidence of it five/six weeks later. Devised an experimentum crucis "some time afterwards": decomposed animal tissue, arsenite of potash + powdered arsenious acid under bell jar. After two/three weeks, added hydrogen to air under jar, burned it, and produced metallic arsenic. "I expressed my conviction that this mode of injection was dangerous, and it was discontinued at that school."]

----. "Action of Recti Muscles." LMG 23 (1838–39): 559–60. [ltr to ed, 29 Dec 1838, by JS, 54 Frith St., MRCS; appeared in issue of 12 January 1839. Reacting to a ltr by Mr. Edward Lonsdale, demonstrator of Anatomy at Middlesex Hospital, "On the Action of the Recti Muscles of the Abdomen," LMG 23 (1838–39): 415–16 (15 December issue). According to Snow, "He says that if different portions of the rectus muscle had separate contractions, there would then be an unequal pressure upon the abdominal viscera. Now this would not be the case for two reasons . . . " and goes on to refute L, showing considerable understanding of anatomy and physics. Points out problems between the pictured structure of the muscles and their normal action, esp. interaction with diaphragm and pressure. Cites the "descriptions of Boyer and Cloquet"; concludes, "I do not think these tendinous bands, which are found varying in number and situation in the rectus abdominis muscle, execute any important office; . . . they are perhaps the remnant of some more early state of organization."]

----. "Mechanism of Respiration." Lancet 1 (1838–39): 653–55. [ltr to ed, in form of commentary on paper "On the Physiology of the Mechanical Action of the Heart." Lancet 1 (1838–39):515–19, by Mr. Goodman from 29 Dec issue. Snow's letter dated 5 January 1839, and appeared in 26 Jan issue. 54 Frith St, MRCS. Opening quote sets forth G's premise, that outer walls of thorax protect the viscera from pressure of atmosphere. Corrects by citing laws of physics and anatomical implications–"The truth is, that with very slight variations the pressure on every part of the thoracic viscera is exactly the same as on the exterior of the chest." Refutes other parts of G's paper by references to Baly's Translation of Müller's Physiology–and later corrects Müller and Sir David Barry on another point–experiments by Magendie detailed in a recent issue of the Lancet, other articles, personal observation, and "simple experiments" he devised for measuring inspiration and expiration with glass tubes inserted in water and mercury.

"On the Physiology of the Action of the Heart, and the ‘Mechanism of Respiration.'" Lancet 2 (1838–39): 332–37. [Goodman's rejoinder, in 25 May 1839 issue, the same in which appeared Wakley's comment that JS should stop criticizing others and produce something.]]

----. "On the Bands in the Recti Muscles." LMG 23 (1838–39): 719–20. [JS replies to item in LMG 23 (1838–39): 640–41; dated 28 Jan 39, appeared in issue of 9 Feb.]

Lancet 2 (1838–39): 352. "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 to criticising the productions of others." [apparently, JS's letter was never published. Refers to "Note on Respiration and Asphyxia." Lancet 2 (1838–39): 240. [4 May 1839 issue; "M.H." offers views on "excitors of inspiration," including "evolved carbonic acid." Concludes: "Asphyxia is, in a word, nearly allied to epilepsy." JS responded, but Lancet suppressed it and gave him a slap on the wrist–do something yourself rather than criticizing others.]

----. "On Distortions of the Chest and Spine in Children, from enlargement of the abdomen." LMG 28 (1841): 112–116. [Read at the Westminster Medical Society on 13 March 1841]

----. "On Asphyxia, and on the Resuscitation of Still–born Children." LMG 29 (1841–42): 222–27. [Read at the Westminster Medical Society on 16 October 1841. Begins with definition of respiration as "mutual exchange that takes place between the oxygen of the air and the blood; and this is not strictly a vital process, but only an operation of organic chemistry"–anticipation of CMC. Asphyxia is the arrest of respiration from any cause, then describes phenomena in humans and higher animals, with emphasis that "the blood is refused admission through the capillaries of the lungs, and the circulation is arrested." Reviews theory/experiments of Spallanzani, Bichat, Kay, John Reid. Thinks Spal's theory of the physiology is correct (oxygen absorbed in arterial blood, unites with carbon in capillary circulation —> heat). Experiments showing influence of higher temp on producing asphyxia leads JS to his conclusion that warmth should not be applied until circulation is restored. Describes discussions with Mr. Read of Regent Circus on an artificial resp bellows, including JS's suggestion that he devise one for new–born infants. Now done, and he describes it. Recaps exp on guinea pig. Dismisses "physiologists who amused themselves in speculating on the cause of the first respiration" and "moralists" who think human beings are born more puny than other creatures.]

----. "On Paracentesis of the Thorax." LMG 29 (1841–42): 705–07. [read at the Westminster Medical Society on 18 December 1841]

----. "On the Circulation in the Capillary Blood–vessels, and on Some of Its Connections with Pathology & Therapeutics." LMG 31 (1842–43): 810–16. [Two papers read at the Westminster Medical Society on 21 January and 4 February 1843. Citations to Jeffreys and Ure are filed with Snow's paper.]

----. "Uterine hæmorrhage, with retention of the placenta. LMG 31 (1842–43): 224–25. [ltr. to the editor, dated 3 November 1842]

----.  "A new kind of pessary." LMG 32 (1842–43): 100. [ltr. to the editor, dated 7 April 1843]

----. "Case of acute poisoning by carbonate of lead." LMG 35 (1844–45): 248–50.

----. "Case of Malignant Hæmorrhagic Small–pox." LMG 35 (1844–45): 585–86. [[ltr. to ed., 22 January 1845; note opening, "the following case from my note–book," plus last para, with distinctive miasmatic keywords and leanings]

----. "Pericarditis after Scarlet–fever." LMG 35 (1844–45): 728–29. [ltr. to ed., 25 February 1845]

----. "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 Journal. 65 (1846): 49–56.

----. "On the use of the term "Allopathy." Lancet 1 (1846): 229. [ltr. to ed., February 1846]

----. "Case of Strangulation of the Ileum in an Aperture of the Mesentery." LMG 38 (1846): 1049-52. [JS's paper for the case presentation at the Royal MedChirSoc on 23 June 1846; NOT publ in the M-C Transactions for 1846 or 1847.]

----.  "Some Remarks on Alkalescent Urine and Phosphatic Calculi." LMG 38 (1846): 877-81. [Issue of 20 November; read at WMS, 7 Nov. 1846; pamphlet reprinted by Wilson and Ogilvy (London, 1846]

----.  "Table for calculating the strength of ether vapour." LMG 39 (1847): 219-220.

----. "On the Inhalation of the Vapour of Ether." LMG 39 (1847): 498-502 (19 March), 539-42.

----. "On the Inhalation of the vapour of Ether." British and Foreign Medical Review 23 (1847): 573-76. [extracts from LMG 39 (1847): 539-42.]

----. "A Lecture on the Inhalation of Vapour of Ether in Surgical Operations." Lancet 1 (1847): 551-54. [29 May issue; delivered at the United Service Institution, 12 May 1847].

----. "On Deformity of the Chest in Children." Lancet 2 (1847): 137. [31 July issue; ltr to the editor, dated "July, 1847," in which Snow defends himself against accusation of plagiarism in 1841 paper before the WMS on this subject, made by George A. Rees, M.D. Lond., in Lancet 2 (1847): 37-38 (10 July issue).] [?? Rees' accusation and Snow's reply filed with 1841 paper.]

----.  On the Inhalation of the Vapour of Ether in Surgical Operations: containing a description of the various stages of Etherization, and a statement of the results of nearly eighty operation in which ether has been employed. London: Churchill, 1847. Pp. 88.

----. "Dr. Snow on the effects of ether vapour." LMG 40 (1847): 859. [November; JS requests a correction of an error in a quotation in review of On the Inhalation, and its implications for the reviewer's opinion; see review below, and reviewer's reply to JS.]

----. "On the Inhalation of Chloroform and Ether, with description of an apparatus." Lancet 1 (1848): 177-80. [12 February issue; read at Westminster Medical Society on 8 January 1848]

----. "The fatal chloroform case at Newcastle." Lancet 1 (1848): 239. [issue of 26 Feb; Snow believes the case of Hannah Greener "appears to confirm in a melancholy manner the remarks contained in my paper in The Lancet of the 12th instant, respecting the danger arising from the cumulative property of the agent when administered on a handkerchief. The alarming symptoms came on after the cloth with chloroform was removed from the patient's face." Snow disagrees with Simpson's conclusion that attempts to revive the girl caused the fatality, noting "that there is nothing in the reported evidence of the appearances on dissection which might not be caused by the kind of asphyxia liable to be induced when the effects of chloroform are carried too far; and these appearances are quite incompatible with Dr. Simpson's supposition that there was syncope."]

----. "Remarks on the Fatal Case of Inhalation of Chloroform." LMG 41 (1848): 277-78.

----. "On Narcotism by the Inhalation of Vapours." LMG 41 (1848): 850-54 (#1), 893-95 (#2), 1074-78 (#3); 42 (1848): 330-35 (#4), 412-16 (#5), 614-19 (#6), 840-44 (#7), 1021-25 (#8).

----. "On the Use of Chloroform in Surgical Operations and Midwifery." LJM 1 (1849): 50-55. [dated December 1848, published in January 1849 issue; probably the reprint of a paper delivered on 23 December 1848 at WMS]

----.  "On the fatal cases of inhalation of chloroform." Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal 72 (1849): 75-87. [July issue; publication of paper read at Westminster Medical on 31 March 1849]

----. "On the Discussion Respecting Chloroform in the Académie de Médecine of Paris." LJM 1 (1849): 324-26. [April issue]

----. "On narcotism." LMG 43 (1849): 228-35 (#9), 451-56 (#10); 983-85 (#11).

----. "On narcotism." LMG 44 (1849): 272-77 (#12).

----. On the Mode of Communication of Cholera. London: Churchill, 1849.

----. "The Cholera at Albion Terrace." LMG 44 (1849): 504-05. [ltr to editor, dated 15 Sept 49]

----. "On the Pathology and Mode of Communication of Cholera." LMG 44 (1849): 745-52, 923-29. [Late October/early November–hence, pub after the pamphlet]

----. "The Alleged Employment of Chloroform by Thieves," LMG 45 (1850): 327 [issue of 26 February].

----. "On narcotism." LMG 45 (1850): 622-27 (#13).

----. "On narcotism." LMG 46 (1850): 321-27 (#14), 749-54 (#15).

----. "On the Treatment of Inflammation of the Skin." Lancet 1 (1850): 502-03. [JS's ltr to the ed. in April, supporting a recommended treatment; notes it was first described in 1843 in Lancet, and he was convinced of its usefulness based on explanation of causes and result of animal experiments.]

----. "Further Remarks on the Employment of Chloroform by Thieves," LMG 46 (1850): 834-35 [issue of 15 November].

----. "Remarks on the administration of chloroform, in answer to Professor Lizars. MT 22 (1850): 228-31. [Lizars' ltr attached]

----. Letter to Prescott Hewett [asst surgeon to St. George's Hospital, and lecturer in anatomy]. No date given, but ltr describes a case in which JS admin chloroform on 18 May 1848. [?? cf. with Case Books. Attached is copy of Hewett's paper (42-50), to which the ltr was appended in M-CTrans 34 (1851): 51-52.

----. "Dr. Snow on Chloroform." MT 22 (1850): 635. [ltr to ed., commenting on Bransby Cooper's remarks in prior issue. Issue of 14 Dec.]

----. "On the Inhalation of Various Medicinal Substances." LJM 3 (1851): 122-29. [copy of paper delivered at 11 Jan meeting of MSL.]

----. "Chloroform, and Its Use by Thieves." LMG 47 (1851): 571. [ltr to editor from 21 March; printed in issue of 28 March]

----. "On narcotism." LMG 47 (1851): 622-27 (#16).

----. "On narcotism." LMG 48 (1851): 1053-57 (#17), 1090-94 (#18).

----. On Narcotism by the Inhalation of Vapours. London: Churchill, 1851 [reprint of the 18 parts serialized in LMG; facsimile edition with introductory essay by Richard H. Ellis. London: Royal Society of Medicine, 1991; order via ILL and copy (because of the index. Have Ellis's intro].

----. "My Dear Mr. Smith." LMG 48 (1851): 370. [short letter from JS, incorporated into Smith's article on use of chloroform during a tracheotomy]

----. Letter to the Right Honourable Lord Campbell, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench, on the Clauses respecting Chloroform in the Proposed "Prevention of Offences Bill." London: John Churchill, 1851.

----. "Lord Campbell's Chloroform Clause." MTG 2 (1851): 325. [JS's ltr to ed.; no date, but appeared in 22 March issue]

???. "On the Mode of Communication of Cholera." St. Bartholomew's Hospital Journal (August 1851): 173-75. [from S. J. Snow's thesis].

----. "On the Mode of Propagation of Cholera." MTG 3 (1851): 559-62; 610-12.

----. "On the Administration of Chloroform in the Public Hospitals." MTG 4 (1852): 349-50. [ltr to ed; no date, but in issue of 3 April.]

----. "On The Cause and Prevention of Death from Chloroform." LJM 4 (1852): 320-29, 415-23, 564-72. [begins in April issue]

----. "Deaths from Chloroform in Scotland." MTG 4 (1852): 598-99. [ltr to ed; no date, but in issue of 12 June. See Simpson's reply in MTG 4 (1852): 627-28.]

----. Death from Chloroform in a Case of Fatty Degeneration of the Heart." MTG 5 (1852): 361-62.

----. On Continuous Molecular Changes, More Particularly in their Relation to Epidemic Diseases. London: John Churchill, 1853.

----. "On the administration of chloroform during parturition." AMJ 1 (1853): 500-02.

----. "On the comparative mortality of large towns and rural districts, and the causes by which it is influenced" (read 2 May 1853). Transactions of the Epidemiological Society , 16-24, in JPH&SR 1 (1855)..

----. "On the Prevention of Cholera." MTG 7 (1853): 367-69 [issue of 8 October; reprinted as a pamphlet by William Tyler (London, 1853)].

----. "The Late Deaths from Chloroform." MTG 7 (1853): 485-86. [ltr to ed, dated 31 October; printed in 5 November issue]

----. "The Water Supply at Newcastle." The Times of London, 11 November [?? check] 1853. [ltr. of 10 November, critique of Mr. Main's letter, a sec to a water company, 10 Nov issue.]

----. "The Principles on Which the Treatment of Cholera Should Be Based." MTG 9 (1854): 180-82.[paper read at Med Soc London, 21 January 1854]

----. "On the Recent Death at St. George's Hospital, While the Patient Was Beginning to Inhale Chloroform." MTG 8 (1854): 606. [ltr to ed, dated 29 May]

----. "Cholera in the Baltic Fleet." MTG 9 (1854): 170. [ltr to editor, dated 5 August; in issue of 12 August]

----. "Communication of Cholera by Thames Water." MTG 9 (1854): 247-48. [ltr to the Editor; August 1854]

----. "The Cholera near Golden-square, and at Deptford." MTG 9 (1854): 321-22. [Ltr. to Ed., in which JS describes his initial investigation. Dated September 1854; published in 23 September number.]

----. "On the Communication of Cholera by Impure Thames Water." MTG 9 (1854): 365-66. [article; 2 Oct 1854]

----. "Chloroform in London and Edinburgh." Lancet 1 (1855): 108-09. [Ltr. to the editor, dated January 1855]

----. On the Mode of Communication of Cholera. 2nd ed. London: Churchill, 1855 [pub 3rd week of January]

----. On the chief Cause of the Recent Sickness and Mortality in the Crimea." MTG 10 (1855): 457-58. [dated April 1855; appeared in issue of 12 May]

----. "The case of fissure of the sternum." Lancet 2 (1855): 17. [JS's ltr to the editor, dated July; appeared in 7 July issue]

----. "Further Remarks on the Mode of Communication of Cholera; including some comments on the recent reports on cholera by the General Board of Health." MTG 11 (1855): 31-35, 84-88.

----.  "The breathing and the pulse under the influence of chloroform. AMJ 3 (1855): 313-18.

----. "Dr. Snow's Report." In Cholera Inquiry Committee, Report on the Cholera Outbreak in the Parish of St. James, Westminster. London: Churchill, 1855.

----. "On the Employment of Chloroform in Surgical Operations." Lancet 2 (1855): 361-63, 383-85.

----. "On the Mode of Communication of Cholera." Edinburgh Medical Journal 1 (1855-56): 668-70. [abbreviated letter to Editor; 14 Dec 55; part of the abbreviated letter from the EMJ is printed in AMJ 4 (1856): 71.]

----. "Cholera and the Water Supply in the South Districts of London in 1854." Journal of Public Health, and Sanitary Review 2  (1856): 239-57.

----. "The Mode of Propagation of Cholera." AMJ 4 (1856): 135. [short letter of 8 Feb from JS in which he questions a misattribution of his theory to Budd by Shuttleworth + Shuttleworth's report]

----. "The Mode of Propagation of Cholera." Lancet 1 (1856): 184. [ltr. to editor; similar to one sent to Assoc Med J, but with a few changes.]

----. "Further Remarks on the Cause and Prevention of Death from Chloroform." Lancet 1 (1856): 148-50 [read at 26 January meeting of MSL; appeared in issue of 9 February 1856.], 154-55 [discussion].

----. "Cholera and the Water Supply." Times of London, 26 June 1856. [critique of Simon's report]

----. Administration of Chloroform." MTG 13 (1856): 21. [ltr to ed., 5 July issue, on Mr. Witten's case; focuses on the kind of inhaler used. Explains why 12 minims of chl. are needed to produce unconsciousness, citing animal exp. published in LMG (1848).]

----. "Case of purpura hæmorrhagica." AMJ 4 (1856): 364-65.

----. "On the Supposed Influence of Offensive Trades on Mortality." Lancet 2 (1856): 95-97. [26 July issue; uses Weekly Returns for prior 18 mos to show that men with some time spent employed in trades involving animal substances actually have a longer average life-span than others; then suggests implications for cholera in London (particularly South London) in 1854 was "that the vicinity of offensive factories leaves the cholera to pursue the same course that it would do in their absences." Also, aligns himself with "a number of eminent authors [who] have for a long period attributed the generality of epidemic or zymotic diseases to special poisons passing in some way from one to patient to another . . ."]

----. "On the Vapour of Amylene." MTG 14 (1857): 60-62, 82-84. [issues of 17 & 24 Jan]

----. "On the Recent Accident from Chloroform." MTG 14 (1857): 282-83. [21 March issue]

----. "Further Remarks on Amylene." MTG 14 (1857): 332-34, 357-59, 379-82. [issues of 4 April,11 April, 18 April]

----. "Dr. Marshall Hall's Method of Artificial Respiration." MTG 14 (1857): 421. [Ltr to ed., appeared in 25 April issue]

----. "On Some Alleged Ill Effects of Amylene." BMJ (1857): 381. [ltr to ed, dated April 1857; appeared in 2 May issue]

----. "On Chloride of Amyle." MTG 14 (1857): 457. [ltr to ed., dated 4 May; appeared in issue of 9 May]

----. "On the Adulteration of Bread as a Cause of Rickets." Lancet 2 (1857): 4-5. [very illuminating piece in issue of 4 July. Shows JS's process of scientific reasoning in a nut-shell. Refers to general practice in "the northern counties," as well as in London starting in 1839; shows early use of feed-back loops among physiology, chemistry, and clinical experience; his hypothetico-deductive reasoning; refers to Liebig; use of both positive and negative evidence.] [Note: an extract from the Pharmaceutical Journal, "on the detection of adulterations in flour and bread," appeared in Lancet 1 (1848): 614, 3 June issue.]

----. "Mr. Prichard on Amylene." BMJ (1857): 654. [ltr to ed., dated 25 July; appeared in 1 August issue; Prichard's address (BMJ (1857): 629-32) attached.]

----. "Case of Death from Amylene." MTG 15 (1857): 133-34. [dated 1 August; appeared in 8 August issue]

----. "The Adulteration of Bread as a Cause of Rickets." Lancet 2 (1857): 351-52. [3 Oct. issue; ltr. to the Ed]

----. "Cholera, and the Water Supply in the South Districts of London." BMJ (1857): 864-65. [17 Oct 57; filed with an editorial (??) From Sat 10 Oct, "The Cholera" that quotes something that sounds like JS on effects of pollution on public water supply]

----. "On the Outbreak of Cholera at Abbey-Row, West Ham." MTG 15 (1857): 417-19. [issue of 24 Oct]

----. "On the Origin of the Recent Outbreak of Cholera at West Ham." BMJ (1857): 934-35. [ltr to ed dated 31 Oct, published in 7 Nov issue; replies to criticism of his views that appeared in 31Oct issue].

----. "On the Case of Congenital Fissure of the Sternum." MTG 15 (1857): 561. [issue of 28 Nov; ltr. to ed dated 21 Nov]

----. "Drainage and Water Supply in Connexion with the Public Health." MTG 16 (1858): 161-63, 188-91. [based on talk given at Epi Soc in Feb; issues of 13 & 20 Feb]

----. "The Recent Death from Chloroform at Bristol." BMJ (1858): 223-25. [dated 13 March; appeared in issue of 20 March; Prichard's paper (BMJ (1858): 207-08) attached]

----. "Death from Chloroform." BMJ (1858): 279. [ltr to ed, dated 27 March; issue of 3 April]

----. On Chloroform and Other Anæsthetics. Benjamin Ward Richardson, ed. London: Churchill, 1858.