Stuff You Should Know The Great Stink: The Stench So Bad They Gave It A Name
Mar 14, 2019
In the scorching summer of 1858, London's Thames River turned toxic, creating an infamous odor known as the Great Stink. The crisis pushed wealthy citizens to demand serious sanitation reforms. Engineers, like Joseph Basil Gett, proposed groundbreaking sewer solutions that transformed London’s public health. This fascinating tale links Victorian innovation with modern-day water issues and highlights the history that shaped contemporary sanitation efforts. Through humor and engaging anecdotes, the narrative captures the urgency and ingenuity of that pivotal moment in history.
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The Thames' Transformation
- London's River Thames was extremely polluted in the 1800s, filled with waste and bodies.
- People were still eating salmon from it in 1800, but by 1830, it had become dangerously disgusting.
Faraday's Findings
- Scientist Michael Faraday investigated the Thames in 1855, finding it incredibly polluted.
- He noted white paper disappeared an inch below the surface and human excrement bubbled up.
Miasma Theory's Impact
- During the 1850s, people believed diseases were caught through smells (miasma theory).
- This fear, combined with the Great Stink, motivated action, even though cholera spread through water.