The Ghost Map, by Steven Johnson, is a narrative that revealed how diseases spread, how cities developed and how people viewed science in 1854. Integrative thinking and the ability to make connections enabled Dr. John Snow to trace the pattern of the disease to its origin. John’s ability to make a connection between the epidemic and the water the people consumed was marvelous. It enabled him to save people’s lives. It is, therefore, important to have an open mind and think in a connective manner.
This is a narrative that took place in 1854 during summer. London, a city on the rise, was hit by a terrible cholera outbreak. Over two million people are infected with the disease. The epidemic killed over a tenth of the population of the city in eight days. This disrupted many economic activities in the city. Dr. John Snow believed that this disease was waterborne; however the scientific community dismissed his idea. Despite Whitehead, the parish priest being skeptical at first, Snow gives him some little credit. He finally saw the evidence when Snow showed him the evidence he had gathered for the waterborne nature of cholera. Despite being dismissed John did not give up on what he believed, he worked tirelessly to prove that his theory was right. His hard work bore fruits when he traced the patterns of the spread of cholera to its source.
Snow succeeded because he was able to connect and build bridges among a variety of disciplines “using data on one scale of study to make a conclusion about behavior on another scale” (Johnson 23). Snow was a scientist as well as a sociologist. The author brings together the social, geographical and biological structures in the real world together. He tries to explain how geography has affected the spread of the virus and how ideas can rapidly spread like an epidemic. Johnson tries to demonstrate how thoughts and ideas can spread in a large geographical area. The author talks about the importance of innovation, inference, communication and the health of the public.
Dr. Snow works tirelessly to prove to the people that his ideas were true. He used the strategy of cause and effect. He went across different subjects as, using the skills and knowledge he had. According to the author, Snow was more interested in the chains and networks, in the movement from one place to another. He enjoyed moving from molecules to cells to brains and finally to machines. The author unites the social, geological and natural structures in this present reality together. He tries to clarify how geology has influenced the spread of the infection and how thoughts can quickly spread like a plague. The results obtained by Snow are as a result of facts he gathered during his research. The people are finally able to learn of the cholera mystery. According to Johnson, it is interesting to see the patterns of life and death placed in a cartographic form.
Despite extensive evidence to the contrary, the society held the miasma theory of the disease tightly. This notion confounded snow; it made him ask a lot of questions. Asking a lot of questions developed his level of thinking. Critical thinking enabled Snow to solve the mystery. According to the author, some of the forces were ideological in nature, matters of social discrimination and convention. The map is not only an important tool for analysis but also a tool of communication; other people had drawn similar maps earlier. Snow, however, drew the map to prove an argument on his second edition in a report he was working on; particularly the description that had a kind of Vonoroi diagram to indicate those who stayed near the water pump.
It is revealed that the map not a vital tool of analysis; others had in fact drawn related maps of the outbreak before Snow. We are aware that Snow only made a drawing of a map after the end the outbreak was over to illustrate his argument in a report and the second proposal of his monograph on the disease. The famous map served as a tool of communication, rather than as a way to discover the cause of the outbreak (Johnson 26). The famous map served as a tool of communication, rather than as a way to discover the cause of the outbreak. Snow did everything possible to prove his theory; he collected evidence and performed trials. As a result of all his work, he not only drew a map, he also innovated a new way of thinking how a disease would spread.
Integrative thinking makes it easier for us to solve problems; the author uses the environment and public health to show how ideas can rapidly spread within a social context. The epidemic shows how evil thoughts and ideas can spread fast, and collective thinking is fundamental to solve such prejudice. The city symbolizes a natural organism that dies when a link in the chain breaks. The epidemic in the city started when the people failed to keep their city clean; the city cleaners had increased their charges. As a result, the landlord left the sewage to overflow into the cellars and going into the river. Snow’s ability to connect all these problems enables him to solve the mystery.
Regardless of broad confirmation in actuality, the general public held the miasma hypothesis of the illness firmly. This idea frustrated snow; it made him solicit a great deal from inquiries. Soliciting a ton from inquiries built up his level of considering. Basic deduction empowered Snow to fathom the secret. As indicated by the creator, a portion of the powers were ideological in nature, matters of social segregation and tradition. The guide is an imperative apparatus for examination as well as a device of correspondence; other individuals had drawn comparative maps before. Snow, in any case, attracted the guide to demonstrate a contention on his second release in a report he was chipping away at; especially the portrayal that had a sort of Vonoroi chart to show the individuals who stayed close to the water pump.
It is impressive to learn that despite Snow’s work not being easy and quick, he had the determination find a solution to a problem and make the world a better place. Snow was able to combine knowledge, acquire new information, and make conclusions. Today, we can make better use of Snow’s technology due to the advancement in technology Indeed, the advanced technology has had its profound impacts; our ability to map data, interpolate, extrapolate and discover the statistical relationship has developed much further and is currently better enhanced.
Works Cited
Johnson, Steven.(2006) The Ghost Map The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic — and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World. New York: Steven Johnson Riverhead Books.
Johnson, Steven.(2008) Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation. New York: Steven Johnson Riverhead Books.
