Regardless of how it came to pass, John Snow became one of the heroes of medical science by discovering how cholera was transmitted. It was a tough journey for him. Being a farmer’s son proved it difficult for him to convince a disbelieving medical establishment that his findings were valid. He trekked all the way to the metropolis. Little did he know that he will be the savior of this great city. His story is legendary. To date, he remains a towering figure in many fields. Psychologists have a few lessons that they can learn from him.
He was born in York. A son of Yorkshire labourer who became a relative good farmer. At the age of fourteen, the youth was connected to an enlightened surgeon who was his mentor. His first encounter with cholera was when it swept through the nearby town during the 1831-1832 epidemic. It broke again in 1846, but this time round, Snow was in London. By this time, he had completed medical training. He was a well know investigator and researcher by the late 1840s since he had already published several groundbreaking studies that included research into anesthesia. From the onset, snow was a high-minded young man. As he advanced in age, he maintained his integrity. As a bachelor, he was glued to his work and in a great manner dedicated his life to scientific and humanitarian pursuits. The basis of investigations into cholera began when he started researching on Anesthesia. He had a good understanding of the operation of gases and from there, he found himself treating cases of cholera in his neighbourhood. He prepared himself to follow unusual to establish his theory of this disease. He consulted widely and eventually, he was convinced that the epidemic is not spread through though touch nor air but by ingestion. He was so certain that, the morbid materials producing cholera was introduced through alimentary canal accidentally. Later he discovered that cholera was transmitted by water. The following are the lesson psychologists can learn from this experience; A problem can lie anywhere;
In the 1800s, London was the largest city in the world. This means it was supposed to be the most sophisticated and maintaining the highest level of hygiene. However, among the menu options that you could have expected in London, it was overwhelmed by the waste products due to its ever growing population. It was overcrowded into decaying, slums that were stinking. Citizens, who were poor were surrounded by their filth. It was piled up in courtyards as well as overflowing from one point of the basement to toilets. Raw sewage flowed everywhere and so its stench. These conditions made the spread of diseases inevitable. Cholera spread fast. In such a city, it was hard to understand how they were challenged so much by the disease. Snow insisted that poor conditions in this place when it came to sanitation, was the main cause of the spread of Cholera. This is where the problem lies. In the big city. Today, psychologists can learn to look everywhere. Even in places where they think everything is okay.
They can learn tactics to social impact diseases has in the society;
Victoria London’s experience in the year 1832 left a huge social impact. Cholera was spread via the bacteria-laced belonging to its victims. It was hard to bear the assault of this violent cholera. It was terrifying. Regardless of whether it killed fewer than the other diseases such as influenza, it provided a deadly delay in social and economic development in this era. The problem lied in the fact that, there was no cure. This left the society crippled. Here, a lesson can be derived. Psychologists should know the impact these diseases have on the society and focus on the campaign for a more healthy society. Effects of poor housing and slums.
During this era, there were poor housing and slums in London. This in a great way prompted debate about the nature of the emerging society. The question lied, was this the price to pay for the gruesome landscape that was being created in London. The irony was that the ruling class was lived an exotic life. As a result, there was a genuine concern for the poor as well as self-preservation by sophisticated class. The cholera was feared, and this became a crucial element in the development of public health in Britain. Some of the first investigations of the conditions of living persevered by the most of the population were inspired by this act. This way, some changes came out with an aim of curbing this problem. Today, if psychologists understood the impact of living peoples’ living conditions, they will advocate for better ones and at the end of the day, society will improve. Be much healthier and able to sustain itself. This follows that there is a clear link between living conditions and diseases. This was discovered back then by a study conducted by Edwin Chadwick. Cholera that happened to be a threat in London seemed to be a great motivation towards the improvement of sanitary condition. Chadwick happened to be holding a high position in sanitary improvement. This meant he had the power to change things. Today, psychologists should use their power and knowledge to change things for better.
They should not be intimidated by anything while carrying on with their duties;
As opposed to many of his contemporaries, John Snow was not intimidated by anything when it came to doing the right thing. He publicly stated that cholera was transmitted through water regardless of how the authorities reacted. When the disease returned in the year 1954, he was already researching links between water supply and deaths from cholera. At this particular time, a water supply, Broad Street Pump was contaminated by single domestic sewer pump. So whenever, locals visited the well, they were rapidly poisoned. Again, eating or drinking products made from this water poisoned them too. This where Snow found the basis of confirming his theory. When the there was an outbreak. Unfortunately, his work was not recognized as fast as it was necessary. He had to push his theory that was already confirmed true and make the parliament able to consider the importance of improving the living conditions of the citizens. After some time, the parliament was unable to ignore the situation anymore and initiated the countries great engineering project designed to improve sanitation. Therefore, psychologists should follow the footsteps of this great guy and be ready to push for what they believe to the end. Were it not for his persistence, Snow could not have been able to control cholera in Britain. Without sacrifice and persistence, psychologists will not be able to do the work effectively.

References
Maher, B. A. (2014). Psychopathologyzll. From the Eighteenth Century to Modern. Topics in the History of Psychology, 2, 295.
Secord, J. A. (2015). Visions of Science: Books and readers at the dawn of the Victorian age. University of Chicago Press.
Parker, S. (2015). Urban theory and the urban experience: Encountering the city. Routledge.