The stench and filth of 19th-century London, especially from the discharge of raw sewage into the Thames, broke through inhibitions concerning bodily wastes to prompt a sanitary revolution. In today's world, around 1 billion people in even more rapidly expanding towns - and many more in rural areas - face a similar crisis. They are without toilets, let alone mass waste disposal systems, to deal with daily requirements for personal convenience, human dignity, and threats to public health. Yet this excretarelated crisis is rarely aired, and appropriate solutions are hopelessly under-funded. Somehow the Victorians conquered their squeamishness and committed major resources to the cleansing of urban space. This experience coloured the subsequent history of public health engineering, mostly for good but not invariably so. What was the impulse that allowed the problem to be addressed, and are there lessons to be learned that could inform the sanitary revolution so needed elsewhere today?

Cairncross, S. (2003) ‘Water supply and sanitation: some misconceptions’, Editorial, Tropical Medicine and International Health 8: 193-5.

Cosgrove, J.J. (1909) History of Sanitation, Standard Sanitary Mfg Co., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Curtis, V. (2001) ‘Dirt, disgust, and disease: Is hygiene in our genes?’ Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 44: 17-31.

Eveleigh, D.J. (2002) Bogs, Baths & Basins: The Story of Domestic Sanitation, Sutton Publishing, Stroud, UK.

Goddard, N. (1988) Harvests of Change, Quiller Press, Fakenham, UK.

Hassan, J. (1998) A History of Water in Modern England and Wales, Manchester University Press, UK.

Smith, F.B. (1979) The People's Health 1830-1910, Croom Helm, London.

Wohl, A.S. (1983) Endangered Lives, Public Health in Victorian Britain, J.M. Dent & Sons, London.

Cairncross, S. (2003) ‘Water supply and sanitation: some misconceptions’, Editorial, Tropical Medicine and International Health 8: 193-5.

Cosgrove, J.J. (1909) History of Sanitation, Standard Sanitary Mfg Co., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Curtis, V. (2001) ‘Dirt, disgust, and disease: Is hygiene in our genes?’ Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 44: 17-31.

Eveleigh, D.J. (2002) Bogs, Baths & Basins: The Story of Domestic Sanitation, Sutton Publishing, Stroud, UK.

Goddard, N. (1988) Harvests of Change, Quiller Press, Fakenham, UK.

Hassan, J. (1998) A History of Water in Modern England and Wales, Manchester University Press, UK.

Smith, F.B. (1979) The People's Health 1830-1910, Croom Helm, London.

Wohl, A.S. (1983) Endangered Lives, Public Health in Victorian Britain, J.M. Dent & Sons, London.

Cairncross, S. (2003) ‘Water supply and sanitation: some misconceptions’, Editorial, Tropical Medicine and International Health 8: 193-5.

Cosgrove, J.J. (1909) History of Sanitation, Standard Sanitary Mfg Co., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Curtis, V. (2001) ‘Dirt, disgust, and disease: Is hygiene in our genes?’ Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 44: 17-31.

Eveleigh, D.J. (2002) Bogs, Baths & Basins: The Story of Domestic Sanitation, Sutton Publishing, Stroud, UK.

Goddard, N. (1988) Harvests of Change, Quiller Press, Fakenham, UK.

Hassan, J. (1998) A History of Water in Modern England and Wales, Manchester University Press, UK.

Smith, F.B. (1979) The People's Health 1830-1910, Croom Helm, London.

Wohl, A.S. (1983) Endangered Lives, Public Health in Victorian Britain, J.M. Dent & Sons, London.

Cairncross, S. (2003) ‘Water supply and sanitation: some misconceptions’, Editorial, Tropical Medicine and International Health 8: 193-5.

Cosgrove, J.J. (1909) History of Sanitation, Standard Sanitary Mfg Co., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Curtis, V. (2001) ‘Dirt, disgust, and disease: Is hygiene in our genes?’ Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 44: 17-31.

Eveleigh, D.J. (2002) Bogs, Baths & Basins: The Story of Domestic Sanitation, Sutton Publishing, Stroud, UK.

Goddard, N. (1988) Harvests of Change, Quiller Press, Fakenham, UK.

Hassan, J. (1998) A History of Water in Modern England and Wales, Manchester University Press, UK.

Smith, F.B. (1979) The People's Health 1830-1910, Croom Helm, London.

Wohl, A.S. (1983) Endangered Lives, Public Health in Victorian Britain, J.M. Dent & Sons, London.