Smelly Facts About London's The Great Stink of 1858

Summary

The video explores the infamous 'Great Stink' of 1858 in London, a disaster caused by centuries of sewage and waste dumping into the River Thames. The unbearable smell, exacerbated by a heatwave, forced the city to confront the dire state of its sewer system. The crisis eventually led to the construction of London's first modern sewer system, designed by Joseph Bazalgette, which resolved the pollution problem and improved public health. The video highlights the impact of poor sanitation, the cholera outbreaks, and how Londoners finally tackled the stench that plagued their city.

Takeaways

• 💩 In 1858, London experienced the 'Great Stink' due to centuries of dumping human, animal, and industrial waste into the River Thames.
• 🤢 The smell was so bad that it caused vomiting and widespread discomfort, even affecting people miles away.
• 🚽 London's primitive sewer systems overflowed, often leading to sewage seeping into homes, causing methane explosions and major health hazards.
• 🚱 The polluted Thames was a major source of drinking water, contributing to deadly cholera outbreaks in 1832, 1849, and 1854.
• 🚽 The rise of flush toilets worsened the situation, overwhelming the outdated sewer systems and flooding homes with sewage.
• 🌊 London's waste dumped into the Thames didn’t wash away as expected due to the river's tidal nature, causing it to remain and spread pollution.
• 📜 Scientist Michael Faraday publicly warned about the deteriorating river conditions in 1855, but the problem was largely ignored until 1858.
• 🔥 A heatwave in 1858 caused the sewage-filled river to dry up, exposing the waste and making the stench unbearable for the entire city, including Queen Victoria.
• 👃 Doctors subscribed to the miasma theory, believing bad smells caused diseases, which led them to focus on masking the smell rather than cleaning the water.
• 🚧 Civil engineer Joseph Bazalgette's new sewer system, implemented after the crisis, successfully diverted waste away from the Thames and restored the city's water quality. His design is still in use today.

Q & A

What caused 'The Great Stink' in London in 1858?

The Great Stink was caused by centuries of raw human, animal, and industrial waste being dumped into the River Thames. A heatwave in 1858 exacerbated the situation, bringing the waste to the surface and causing a horrendous odor throughout the city.

How did London's primitive sewer system contribute to the crisis?

London’s primitive sewer system emptied sewage into cesspits and streets, which eventually overflowed into the Thames. The outdated system, not designed to handle the growing population and flush toilets, directly contributed to the contamination of drinking water and the Great Stink.

What were the health consequences of the poor sewer system before 1858?

The poor sewer system caused multiple cholera outbreaks in 1832, 1849, and 1854, killing thousands of Londoners. The unsanitary conditions led to widespread disease due to the contamination of drinking water with raw sewage.

Why did the introduction of flush toilets worsen the situation?

Flush toilets added water to cesspits, which were already filled with waste, causing them to overflow more frequently and increasing the risk of sewage backing up into homes. The additional strain worsened the already overwhelmed sewer system, leading to more waste entering the Thames.

Why did Londoners continue to dump waste into the Thames despite the consequences?

Londoners believed that the waste dumped into the Thames would be washed out to sea. However, the tidal nature of the river caused the waste to accumulate and flow back into the city, leading to the buildup that culminated in the Great Stink.

How did Sir Michael Faraday raise awareness of the Thames' pollution problem?

In 1855, Sir Michael Faraday conducted an experiment by dropping paper cards into the Thames to observe how quickly they disappeared in the polluted water. He wrote a letter to The Times describing the horrific conditions, hoping to spur action.

What role did the heatwave of 1858 play in the Great Stink?

The heatwave of 1858 intensified the stench of the Thames by cooking the waste in the river, causing the smell to spread throughout the city. The stagnant water and heat brought centuries of waste to the surface, worsening the already dire situation.

How did the miasma theory affect the response to the Great Stink?

At the time, the miasma theory, which held that diseases were caused by bad smells, influenced the response. Efforts were made to cover up the odor, including dumping chloride of lime into the river, rather than addressing the underlying pollution, which only added to the river’s toxicity.

What finally motivated the government to take action against the pollution?

The stench from the Thames reached the new offices of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster, making the issue impossible for lawmakers to ignore. Within 18 days, they passed a bill to fund the construction of a new sewer system.

Who was Joseph Bazalgette and how did he help solve the Great Stink?

Joseph Bazalgette was a civil engineer tasked with redesigning London’s sewer system. His design diverted waste east of the city and included water treatment stations and embankments. The system was highly effective, improving water quality and reducing waterborne illnesses, and is still in use today.