RSC Chemical Landmark: Dr John Snow,

To honour the life and work of Dr John Snow, pioneering epidemiologist and discoverer of cholera, the RSC placed a Chemical Landmark at the site where he supposedly snapped the handle off the local water pump. By denying residents of Broad St (now Broadwick St), Soho, access to the tainted supply, Snow demonstrated that contaminated water was to blame for the spread of cholera, thereby potentially saving millions of lives in the UK. This Landmark event was held in conjunction with WaterAid, a charity committed to educating those in developing nations about the importance of clean water, and providing access to it. The Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, then Health Secretary, unveiled the plaque at the (excellent) John Snow pub in Broadwick St, Soho.