The Ghost Map: The Story of London’s Most Terrifying Epidemic

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Water
City Structure
Death
Conclusion
References

Introduction

“The ghost map: The story of London’s most terrifying epidemic – and how it changed science, cities and the modern world” illustrates how water contamination has caused one of the most intense cholera outbreaks. The image has elements that refer to the main themes suggested in the book. The illustration of the water faucet, water, and the gaunt face are three elements that refer to death, the source of the contamination, and the imminence of the disease as it reflects in the city structure, which ultimately facilitates the spread.

Water

The book refers to the finding of the main character regarding the source of the cholera epidemic. Thus, John Snow ultimately found out that the water contamination has caused the outbreak (Johnson, 2006). While being a source of life, the water became the source of death and suffering for families all across the city of London. The illustration and the book both refer to the element as the main piece. The author has exemplified that the doctors were to draw a map and form conclusions based on logic and evidence to find the initial cause of the disease spreading (Reich & Haran, 2018). This is especially significant due to the intrinsic need for water to survive, which makes it symbolistic that Victorian London experienced destruction as a result of a fulfillment of a basic need.

City Structure

Another element in the image is the water faucet, which highlights the way the disease has spread. The cause of the epidemic was the replacement of a water pump, which ultimately revealed the vulnerability of cities despite technological improvements (Brindley, 2019). While London was a developed city with a seemingly effective water system, one mistake caused a reversal into the ancient time when infections and diseases were prominent (Campbell, 2019). The phenomenon highlights that people while living differently, can be even more endangered due to the collective burden of dealing with problems correlating with urbanism.

Death

Death, both in the book and in the image, holds particular importance. In both cases, it is something almost mysterious and imminent. Furthermore, when death is not a result of behavior but a location, it becomes more impending and seemingly unavoidable (Anthamatten, 2022). When mortality is represented through a source of life that is a significant part of everyday life, the symbol reflects an even stronger connotation. Moreover, as the main character in the book discovers that the source of sorrow and suffering is the city water system, the end is nowhere near to be avoided and seems closer than ever.

Conclusion

The three elements present both in the picture and book are water, the water system illustrated through the faucet, and death referred to in the drop. These are the central symbols in the book since the source of the cholera epidemic was found to be the replacement of a water pump that contaminated the entire city. As a result, the water became a source of death rather than that of life.

References

Anthamatten, P. (2022). Geography and health. Health Studies, 125–155. Web.

Brindley, P. G. (2019). Ticker and the ghost map. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 128(3). Web.

Campbell, D. G. (2019). Dickens, cholera and Big Data. Dickens Quarterly, 36(3), 224–240. Web.

Johnson, S. B. (2006). The Ghost Map: the story of London’s most terrifying epidemic – and how it changed science, cities and the modern world. Riverhead.

Reich, B. J., & Haran, M. (2018). Precision maps for public health.Nature, 555(7694), 32–33. Web.

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The Ghost Map: The Story of London’s Most Terrifying Epidemic

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