The ‘Mary Poppins’ Cancer

<p>In this episode of <em>Disappearing Spoon</em>, Sam Kean discusses the horrors of a particular genetic disease that was, literally, sweeping through London in the 1700s. In 1666, the Great Fire of London consumed about 13,000 homes and caused the modern equivalent about $1.3 billion in damage. After the Great Fire, London officials made chimneys mandatory in all homes and buildings. All these new chimneys meant there was a big demand for sweepers. Who did they employ to clean these narrow, soot-filled chimneys you ask? Very young boys.</p> <h2>Credits</h2> <p>Host: <a href="https://samkean.com/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://samkean.com/">Sam Kean</a><br /> Senior Producer: <a href="../../../profile/mariel-carr" data-cke-saved-href="/profile/mariel-carr">Mariel Carr</a><br /> Producer: <a href="../../../profile/rigoberto-hernandez" data-cke-saved-href="/profile/rigoberto-hernandez">Rigoberto Hernandez</a><br /> Audio Engineer: <a href="http://jamesmorrison.pressfolios.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href= "http://jamesmorrison.pressfolios.com/">J</a><a href= "https://www.podbrain.org/" data-cke-saved-href= "https://www.podbrain.org/">onathan Pfeffer</a></p>