The 18th century heralded the industrial revolution.

Now the effects of mechanical noise became apparent as factory workers suffered damage to their hearing.

But even city dwellers who did not live near factories complained of increasing disturbances.

Historian Thomas Carlyle took refuge in a " well-deafened room "
on the roof of his London house to avoid crowing cocks,
neighbors' pianos , and the nearby street traffic..

The Times reports: " It didn't work."

Why ?

" He was then maddened by a new battery of noises ,
including river hooters and railway whistles " !