"City That Was" by Stephen Smith is a groundbreaking account of the public health revolution that transformed New York City in the nineteenth century, offering insights into the sanitary challenges faced by cities worldwide. Written in 1911, this work highlights the monumental social changes that saved countless lives and reshaped urban living, making it one of the most significant movements in modern history. Smith, an American surgeon and public health pioneer, recounts the transformation of New York from a city plagued by filth to one that embraced sanitation and health reform.