How a Terrible Smell Saved LondonIt took a city-wide stink to stop a plague.
From the show
It really happenedA sensory crisis can be the catalyst for massive, life-saving change. In 1858, a heatwave intensified the stench of London's sewage-filled River Thames, making politicians physically ill. This event, known as 'The Great Stink,' finally broke through political gridlock to address the city's cholera epidemics. The crisis spurred the creation of a modern sewer system, proving that sometimes the most visceral problems are what force governments to solve long-standing public health issues.
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