mondojohnson

The current spasm of flu-fear provides the perfect context for reading Steven Johnson’s “The Ghost Map: The Story of London’s Most Terrifying Epidemic — and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World.”

The terrifying epidemic was cholera, which tore through London every few years. The reported symptoms of the Swine Flu have nothing on the horrors visited on those unlucky enough to come down with cholera in Victorian London: the disease literally drained the life out of its victims in as little as 12 hours. Entire families limply watched each other die painfully, as Johnson powerfully describes.

Despite these sad and often disgusting accounts, “The Ghost Map” is a triumphant tale of scientific heroism. Through patient and meticulous observation, Dr. John Snow was able to produce a “birds-eye” view of the cholera outbreak in a certain neighborhood, and in so doing was able to demonstrate that the disease was waterborne. This was no small feat of persuasion, as the accepted hypothesis at the time was that disease is caused by foul odors, which Victorian London was rank with.

“Infographics” and Google map-mashups are all the rage these days, but this fascinating book reminds us that we didn’t start that particular fire.

Steven Johnson gives a ten-minute synopsis of his book at TED.com, which is how I found out about the book in the first place. You can watch his talk there.