'Dangers to Health: A Pictorial Guide to Domestic Sanitary Defects', book, England, 1883
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This guide was written by Thomas Pridgin Teale (1831-1923), an English surgeon. It was first published in 1879 and went to four later editions, including this one. The book described with pictures the danger posed within the home of poorly designed and maintained sanitation systems. (Good sanitation had been recognised as an important influence on health by this time.) The featured image shows how a drain located under a hallway overflowed and the sewage seeped all over the house, causing its inhabitants to contract typhoid fever. The book, which was ultimately translated into French, German and Spanish, was probably aimed at householders and builders.
Object number:
E2008.87.3
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: book
A written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers. Usually continuous printing or writing.
Glossary: typhoid fever
An acute infection of the digestive system, resulting in general weakness, high fever, rash, chills and sweating. It is transmitted through food or drinking water contaminated by the faeces or urine of patients or carriers.