The Science of Epidemiology

[capt_facepalm]

Title:  The Science of Epidemiology
Author: capt_facepalm
Rating: PG
Fandom:  Sherlock Holmes (Gaslight)
Characters:  Dr John H. Watson, Sherlock Holmes
Summary:  As more bodies pile up, Watson applies the science of epidemiology to the science of deduction
Warnings:  (none)
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: July 29th 2012 prompt: Illness
(Author has written on the H/C Illness theme previously and it can be found at This Link .)

.oOOo.

When Sherlock Holmes returned to Baker Street, he found his flatmate examining a map.

‘Watson, what are you doing?’

‘I’ve placed a mark for each of the murder victims on this onionskin. Perhaps I’ll recognise some sort of pattern when I lift it away from the underlying map.’

‘That’s ingenious!’

‘It’s not new. This was the method used successfully in 1854 to track the source of the cholera epidemic to a contaminated water pump on Broad Street.’

‘What a useful application for criminology. Have you found anything?’

‘Nothing stands out. Fortunately we have only eight deaths to consider, not hundreds.’

.oOOo.

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Comments

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

The famous "remove the pump handle" cure for the cholera epidemic! (I may have referred to that same incident in my #9 prompt.)

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

For reasons, both personal and professional, John Snow is a hero of mine! No trip to London is complete without a trip to the John Snow pub.
(If you dare, ask for your drink in a dirty glass!)

[debriswoman]

Nicely referenced to historical events. And great to see Watson's powers of deduction coming to the fore:-)

Almost makes up for your last production:-)

[med_cat]

Agreed ;)

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Thanks!
I always try to portray a smart Watson. There is no way Holmes would tolerate him if he was an idiot. Watson would have certainly learned about Dr Snow and the cholera epidemic of 1854 when he was in university. Having him apply his specialised knowledge in Holmes's field of criminology is a logical progression.

[debriswoman]

Medics can be quite canny at times:-)

[azuhra.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love getting a history lesson from my fic reading. This one in particular. The cholera epidemic and the story behind it in history are fascinating topics to me.

But. Go Watson for applying the idea to the science of deduction! Even if it didn't help.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

I haven't read this yet, but it is on my list of things to read:

The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson