The Great Filth: The War Against Disease in Victorian England

Synopsis

'Despite its wealth and social prominence the family found that it was unable to isolate itself from the stench, pollution and health hazards of the day...Probably as a consequence of the poor drainage system, the father contracted one of the most lethal and dreaded of what the Victorians called 'filth diseases' - 'bowel fever' or typhoid ...The mother had had typhoid herself when she was sixteen and quite understandably she dreaded the disease, which was a major killer...This family, with its troubles, tragedies, and near-tragedies from bad sewers and filth diseases, forced to live amidst stink and water and air pollution, was the Royal Family, of Victoria, Albert and their children.'