Which groups initially rejected Dr. John Snow's findings about disease transmission?

Dr. John Snow is often referred to as one of the founders of modern epidemiology, primarily for his work during the cholera outbreaks in London in the mid-19th century. His revolutionary idea was that cholera was transmitted through contaminated water rather than miasma, or "bad air," which was the prevailing theory at the time. Despite the groundbreaking nature of his findings, many established medical societies in London initially rejected his conclusions.

The medical community was heavily influenced by traditional beliefs and lacked the scientific understanding of germ theory that emerged later. Snow's evidence, based on mapping cholera cases and their correlation with a specific water pump, was revolutionary but met with skepticism. Many in the medical societies were entrenched in their existing beliefs about disease transmission, which primarily attributed illnesses to environmental factors like foul air. This resistance was compounded by the lack of widespread acceptance of the germ theory of disease at that time.

In contrast, government health officials, pharmaceutical companies, and public health organizations had varying levels of interest and responsibility regarding public health, but it was primarily the scientific and medical communities that were most resistant to Snow's findings. Thus, the initial rejection of his work predominantly came from the medical societies, which were instrumental in shaping public health discourse during that