Chapter One Of The Unfolds In The Ghost Map

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In the summer of 1854, London was swarming with people. Having a population of more than two million, it was the most densely populated city on the planet, and with 432 people per acre, the area of Soho was London 's most densely populated sub-district. This is where chapter one of The Ghost Map unfolds. Chapter one of Steven Johnson 's account of London 's 1854 cholera epidemic is titled "The Night-Soil Men,” referring to the inner-city rummagers that spent their free time collecting and selling human waste. Yes, London in the mid-19th century was knee-deep in shit, which Johnson attributes to a number of factors, not the least of which was the introduction of the water closet. Water closets were a hit with the community, but nobody knew