--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: British Medical Journal asked its readers…" description: "\"“British Medical Journal asked its readers to vote on the most important medical milestone that had occurred since 1840, when the BMJ was first publish..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/chip-heath-4065_books_british-medical-journal-asked-its-reader_2084365.jpg" --- # British Medical Journal asked its readers to vote on the… ![“British Medical Journal asked its readers to vote on the most important medical milestone that had occurred since 1840, when the BMJ was first published. Third place went to anesthesia, second place to antibiotics. The winner was one you might not have expected: the “sanitary revolution,”…” quote by Chip Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/chip-heath-4065_books_british-medical-journal-asked-its-reader_2084365.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/chip-heath-4065_books_british-medical-journal-asked-its-reader_2084365.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/chip-heath-4065_books_british-medical-journal-asked-its-reader_2084365.jpg) > ““British Medical Journal asked its readers to vote on the most important medical milestone that had occurred since 1840, when the BMJ was first published. Third place went to anesthesia, second place to antibiotics. The winner was one you might not have expected: the “sanitary revolution,” encompassing sewage disposal and methods for securing clean water. Much of the world, though, is still waiting for that revolution to come.”” [Chip Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-heath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights that clean water and sewage systems—often overlooked—are the most vital health advances, surpassing anesthesia and antibiotics. **In simple terms:** Clean water and sanitation are the greatest health breakthroughs. Key Takeaway Prioritize sanitation for health. Themes public health infrastructure history Mood informative urgent inspirational Type educational historical When to use this quote - policy making - urban planning - education - NGO work Key Concepts epidemiology social determinants technology adoption Questions to Reflect On - What steps can societies take to improve sanitation? - How can we raise awareness of sanitation’s impact? A Different Perspective Implementation can be hindered by political and economic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Clean water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean-water/) [Second place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-place/) [Third place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/third-place/) ## Related quotes > [Look back to 1948 when the British Medical Association denounced Aneurin Bevan as 'a would-be Führer' for wanting them to join a National Health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lansley/look-back-to-1948-when-the-british-medical-association-denounced/) [Andrew Lansley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lansley/) > [First, it must be a pleasure to study the human body the most miraculous masterpiece of nature and to learn about the smallest vessel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-virchow/first-it-must-be-a-pleasure-to-study-the-human-body-the-most/) [Rudolf Virchow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-virchow/) > [It seems an easy choice - sacrifice the tree for a human life - until one learns that three trees must be destroyed for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/it-seems-an-easy-choice-sacrifice-the-tree-for-a-human-life-until-one/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [If Arsenal don't finish third, they might not finish in third place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-martin/if-arsenal-don-t-finish-third-they-might-not-finish-in-third-place/) [Alvin Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-martin/) > [If we go back to the moon, we're guaranteed second, maybe third place because while we are spending all that money, Russia has its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/if-we-go-back-to-the-moon-we-re-guaranteed-second-maybe-third-place/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [“A mood of constructive criticism being upon me, I propose forthwith that the method of choosing legislators now prevailing in the United States be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/a-mood-of-constructive-criticism-being-upon-me-i-propose-forthwith-2/) [H.L. 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