The Greatest Invention Ever

    The year was 1851. Millions of people from all over Europe were gathered in London, England. They were there to see an exhibit of the world’s most fascinating items. 

    There were beautiful stuffed zebras from Africa. There were statues carved out of white marble. There was even an enormous diamond—the largest on Earth! 

    But it was a very plain item that truly amazed the crowds. Over five months, 675,000 people waited in line to use it.

    This popular item wasn’t anything that would look very special to you. It was a toilet that flushed. Why was that such a big deal?

    In 1851, millions of people went to London, England. They were there to see an exhibit of the world’s most amazing things. 

    There were stuffed zebras from Africa. There were marble statues. There was even the world’s biggest diamond!

    But it was a very plain item that amazed people the most. Over five months, 675,000 people waited in line to use it.

    This item might not seem special now. It was a toilet that flushed. Why was that such a big deal?

    The year was 1851. Millions of people from all over Europe were gathered in London, England, to view an exhibit of the world’s most fascinating items. 

    There were beautiful stuffed zebras from Africa and statues carved out of white marble. There was even an enormous diamond on display—the largest on Earth!

    But the item that truly captivated the crowds was neither a gemstone nor a work of art. Over five months, 675,000 people waited in line to use it.

    This popular item wouldn’t seem extraordinary to you—it was a toilet that flushed. Why was that such a big deal?

    Actually, it’s easy to understand why people were so excited about the flush toilet. At the time, life in London and other cities was stinky. It was dangerous too.

    Until the flush toilet was invented, getting rid of human feces [FEE-sees]—or poop—was a big challenge. People dumped it wherever they could. 

    They’d toss it into the street. They’d throw it into rivers and ditches. Can you imagine the terrible odor that must have filled the air?

    But the smell wasn’t the only problem. Human waste is filled with germs that can make you seriously sick. Even a small amount of feces can spread deadly diseases like cholera and typhoid. 

    In the old days, no one knew that feces could spread diseases. So people kept tossing their waste into ditches. When it rained, these ditches overflowed. The overflow got into wells used for drinking water. One glass of this dirty water could kill a person in days. 

    Flush toilets helped solve a big problem. At the time, life in London and other cities was stinky. It was dangerous too.

    Before the flush toilet was invented, it was hard to get rid of human feces (poop). People dumped it wherever they could.

    They tossed it into the street. They threw it into rivers and ditches. Can you imagine the awful smell in the air?

    And the smell wasn’t all. Human waste has germs that can make you very sick. It can spread diseases like cholera and typhoid.

    In the old days, no one knew that poop could make you sick. So they kept tossing it into ditches. When it rained, the ditches overflowed. The dirty water got into wells used for drinking water. One glass of this dirty water could kill a person in days. 

    Actually, it’s easy to understand why the flush toilet caused so much excitement. At the time, life in London and other cities was both stinky and dangerous.

    Until the flush toilet was invented, London had no system in place for the disposal of human feces—or poop. People dumped it wherever they could.

    They’d toss it into the street, as well as into rivers and ditches. Can you imagine the terrible odor that must have filled the air?

    But the smell wasn’t the only problem. Human waste carries germs that can make you seriously sick. Even a small amount of feces can spread deadly diseases like cholera and typhoid.

    In the old days, no one knew that feces could spread diseases—so they continued to toss their waste into ditches. These ditches overflowed when it rained, and the overflow got into wells used for drinking water. A single glass of this dirty water could kill a person in days. 

    At first, the flush toilet only made things worse. All that flushed water still had to go somewhere. It didn’t fit into the ditches used for human waste. Soon, dirty water flooded the streets. 

    In London, one hot summer was known as “The Great Stink.” The smell was so terrible that many people left the city. In some places, poop piled up six feet deep.

    It took more than 10 years for London officials to solve the poop problem. How did they do it? City leaders built sewers. These were huge pipe systems that kept human waste away from drinking water. 

    Together, toilets and sewers saved lives. All that flushed water finally had somewhere to go. Fewer people got sick. 

    And life in London and other cities got much less stinky.

    At first, the flush toilet made things worse. The flushed water had to go somewhere. The ditches couldn’t hold it. Dirty water filled the streets.

    One London summer was known as “The Great Stink.” The smell was so bad that people left the city. In some spots, poop piled up six feet deep.

    It took more than 10 years for London to solve its poop problem. How was it done? City leaders built sewers. These huge pipe systems kept human waste away from drinking water.

    With toilets and sewers, fewer people got sick.

    And London smelled much better. 

    At first, the flush toilet only made matters worse: All that flushed water had to go somewhere, and it didn’t fit into the ditches used for human waste. Soon, dirty water flooded the streets.

    In London, one hot summer was known as “The Great Stink.” The smell was so unbearable that people fled the city. In some places, poop piled up six feet deep.

    It took more than 10 years for London officials to solve the poop problem. How did they do it? City leaders built sewers, huge pipe systems that kept human waste away from drinking water.

    Together, toilets and sewers saved lives. All that flushed water finally had somewhere to go. Fewer people got sick.

    And life in London and other cities got much less stinky.