feb 27, 1858 - The Great Stink of London
Description:
The River Thames had become filled with waste; after years of being used as a dumping ground for all sorts of garbage, not least of all human, animal and industrial waste, plus a summer with sweltering heats, the result was the creation of a smell that caused much chaos and trouble for the citizens in 1858. Unfortunately no action was taken, as no one really was too sure what to do about it, and the river though contaminated, continued to be used for dumping and as a water source. Michael Faraday, an English chemist and physicist, was one of the many supporters of cleaning up the river.
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Disease Through History: Important Points in Human Civilization As Told Through Illness
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