London's Sanitation Crisis: History and Health

This chapter explores London's historical development from Roman times, focusing on the city's rapid growth during the Industrial Revolution. It highlights the severe sanitation issues in the mid-19th century, including inadequate sewage systems and the pollution of the Thames River, which led to public health crises. The narrative also discusses key contributions from scientists like Michael Faraday and John Snow, who helped shift the understanding of disease to the importance of waterborne transmission.