The Great Stink
The\xa0Great Stink\xa0was an event in central London in July and August 1858 during which the hot weather exacerbated the smell of untreated\xa0human waste\xa0and industrial\xa0effluent\xa0that was present on the banks of the\xa0River Thames. The problem had been mounting for some years, with an ageing and inadequate sewer system that emptied directly into the Thames. The\xa0miasma\xa0from the effluent was thought to transmit contagious diseases, and three outbreaks of\xa0cholera\xa0prior to the Great Stink were blamed on the ongoing problems with the river.
\xa0
Our theme song was written and performed by Anna Bosnick. If you\u2019d like to support the show on a per episode basis, you can find our Patreon page here. \xa0Be sure to check our website for more details.