5 Jobs From History That Were Absolutely Terrifying

Mudlark – Children Who Searched Raw Sewage

Mudlarks were mostly poor children who scavenged the muddy banks of the River Thames at low tide, looking for coins, metal, rope, or anything they could sell. The problem? By the 19th century, the Thames was essentially an open sewer, filled with human waste, animal carcasses, and industrial runoff. Mudlarks waded through it barefoot, breathing in toxic fumes, and often cut themselves on broken glass or rusty metal. Tetanus, cholera, and typhoid were just part of the job.