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Polluted London Water
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Polluted London Water
THE CITY NARCISSUS Punch accuses Londons officials of being too self-satisfied to realise the danger to the the citys health from the polluted water of the Thames Date: 1849
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Media ID 20145347
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1849 Accuses Citys Community Danger Health Londons Narcissus Officials Polluted Punch Realise Satisfied Supply
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this powerful and thought-provoking image from 1849, titled "The City Narcissus: Or, London's Self-Admiration," Punch magazine accuses London's officials of being too self-satisfied to acknowledge the danger to the city's health from the polluted water of the Thames. The photograph shows a mirror-like reflection of the city's grand architecture on the murky, polluted waters of the river. The caption reads, "Looking glass, thou reflectest not the things that lie within thee, but only what lies without. So it is with London: she sees only her own fair face in the Thames, and knows not the filth that lies beneath." At the time, the Thames was notoriously polluted, with raw sewage, industrial waste, and other pollutants regularly discharged into the river. Despite this, Londoners continued to draw their water supply from the Thames, putting their health at risk. The image of the city's reflection on the water serves as a stark reminder of the disconnect between London's external beauty and the internal realities of its living conditions. The photograph is a powerful critique of the city's leaders, who were more concerned with maintaining London's image as a global center of commerce and culture than addressing the pressing health and environmental issues facing its residents. The image serves as a call to action, urging London's officials to recognize the danger to their community's health and take steps to improve the city's water supply and address the root causes of the pollution.
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