Faraday to Beriah Drew¹   14 August 1847

Dundee, 14th August.

Sir, - My health will not permit me to enter into the consideration of the many points that are offered to me, nor I regret to say into the important one contained in your letter. I have the strongest conviction that of all the ways of sweetening the air passages of sewers in a large town, that of casting the vapours and miasma by myriads of passages into the midst of a dense population is the very worst; it is a return in part to the practice of leaving the sewers open. You will, by inquiry, easily find out those who have thought on the question. I have not, and cannot now closely consider it; but I have often thought that the many furnace and engine flues that rise up so abundantly in various parts of London, might be made to compensate in part for the nuisance which their smoke occasions by being turned to account in ventilating the sewers and burning the putrid vapours generated in them.

I am, Sir, your very obedient servant, | M. Faraday