BMJ  2007;334:111 (20 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.39097.611806.DB

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BMJ readers choose the "sanitary revolution" as greatest medical advance since 1840

¹ BMJ

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

More than 11 300 readers of the BMJ chose the introduction of clean water and sewage disposal—"the sanitary revolution"—as the most important medical milestone since 1840, when the BMJ was first published. Readers were given 10 days to vote on a shortlist of 15 milestones, and sanitation topped the poll, followed closely by the discovery of antibiotics and the development of anaesthesia.

The work of the 19th century lawyer Edwin Chadwick, who pioneered the introduction of piped water to people's homes and sewers rinsed by water, attracted 15.8% of the votes, while antibiotics took 15%, and anaesthesia took 14%. The next two most popular were the introduction of vaccines, with 12%, and the discovery of the structure of DNA (9%).

A total of 11 341 people voted on the shortlist, which was chosen by a panel of experts from a list nominated by readers. Almost a third of the voters . . . [Full text of this article]

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Sanitary Revolution

John S. Morley
bmj.com, 20 Jan 2007 [Full text]

Omnes viae Romam ducunt (All roads lead to Rome)

John Doherty
bmj.com, 23 Jan 2007 [Full text]

What would lay persons choose?

Ulrich Heininger, et al.
bmj.com, 24 Jan 2007 [Full text]

Online poll

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