Using geographic skills to solve real-world problems

Cholera is a severe, infectious disease of the small intestine. It is marked by heavy diarrhea, vomiting, and muscle cramps, and can result in coma and death. For centuries, it was confined to India, but in the early 19th century it began to spread to other parts of Asia, Europe, and the Americas. 

The disease begins in the small intestine, setting off an infection that interferes with normal intestinal functions. Frequent diarrhea results. This can cause a great deal of fluid loss—water and essential salts—in a short period of time. In some cases, three to four gallons of fluid loss has been reported in a 24-hour period. In addition, vomiting and other symptoms often develop. Unfortunately, about 50 percent of all those who contract cholera die of the disease. 

It is September, 1854, in London, England. In the past 10 days, more than 500 people, all from the same section of the city, have died of cholera. Your job is to attempt to determine the cause of this disease and prevent further deaths. Your only tools are a knowledge of geography and the ideas of location, place, interaction, movement, and region. There are a number of competing theories to explain the transmission of cholera, including claims that the disease is spread through food, water, air, contact (touch), blood, insects, and animals: nobody knows for sure where the infection originates or how it spreads.

You have a map of the Soho district and a listing of the approximate addresses of all the dead at your disposal. Your completed report to the Mayor's office should include 1) a map illustrating the location of the deaths and any other pertinent information, 2) a written explanation of the epidemic's cause(s), and 3) a proposed solution. Good Luck!!

Number of deceased at each approximate location/address:
  • Between Regent St. and Saville Row: 5
  • South of Gt. Marlborough St., east of King St., and west of Broad St.: 87
  • South of Gt. Marlborough St., west of Poland St., and north of Broad St.: 43
  • Between Gt. Marlborough St. and Oxford St.: 7
  • East of Golden Square, south of Broad St., and west of Lexington St.: 124
  • South of Brewer St.: 12
  • Between Lexington St. and Berwick St.: 112
  • Between Poland St. and Berwick St. (south of Gt. Marlborough St.): 79
  • Between Poland St. and Berwick St. (north of Gt. Marlborough St.): 3
  • Between Berwick St. and Wardour St. (north of Broad St.): 15
  • Between Berwick St. and Wardour St. (south of Broad St.): 28
  • Between Wardour St. and Dean St.: 48


Locations of selected sites around the City:
  • Churches/Schools: corner of Conduit St. and Regent St., southern end of Regent St., corner of Regent St. and Oxford St., Oxford St. and Poland St., corner of Gt. Marlborough St. and King St., corner of Broad St. and Berwick St., just north of Golden Square, corner of Lexington St. and Brewer St., center of Wardour St., corner of Dean St. and Oxford St., and the corner of Dean St. and the northernmost unnamed street from the west.
  • Food Markets: Corner of Gt. Marlborough St. and Poland St., between King St. and Regent St., Golden Square, Picadilly Circus, and the eastern/central portion of Dean St.
  • Hospitals: Between Broad St. and King St., the eastern end of Oxford St., and between Brewer St. and Picadilly.
  • Water pumps: southern end of Saville Row, center of Warwick St., corner of Gt. Marlborough St. and the street going south, between Oxford St. and Gt. Marlborough St., corner of Broad St. and Lexington St., east corner of Golden Square and Brewer St., corner of Berwick St. and Brewer St., southern end of Dean St., and the eastern end of Oxford St.

Map to use in the assignment