Changes in Public Health 1845-1945 Flashcards
What public health problems were there in Britain’s towns and cities in the early 1800s?
Houses were built as close together as possible as more people crowded into factory towns to work.
Towns could not cope with the need to provide people with water and sewage disposal facilities.
In these squalid conditions, diseases like Cholera and TB spread easily and rapidly.
The conditions were so bad that many people’s health may have even become worse than ever before.
What is laissez faire?
A belief that the government shouldn’t interfere in public health matters.
Who was Edwin Chadwick?
In 1842 he was asked by the government to report on the living conditions and health of the poor.
Chadwick concluded that poverty was caused by ill health which was caused by the terrible conditions in which people lived.
He said that ratepayers can cut their taxes and save money in the long-term by looking after the poor and
to spend money improving their health.
What were the key features of the work of Edwin Chadwick?
Key feature: Wrote the Chadwick report
Facts:
Writes a report in 1842 on the living conditions of the poor after Cholera outbreaks.
Recommends better sewers, clean water supplies and a district medical officer.
People do not like his ideas because they will cost money to implement.
Importance:
His ideas are eventually listened to and put into law in the 1848 Public Health Act, although this is only voluntary.
What were the key features of the work of John Snow?
Key feature: Created the chloroform vaporiser/Proved that Cholera is caused by dirty water.
Facts:
Investigated the deaths of people overdosing on Chloroform.
Studied cholera in London and plotted deaths on a map. Brewery not affected.
Discovered it was the fit (needed a higher dose) and the fearful (held their breath and then breathed in more) that were dying.
All the deaths were around Broad street. Brewery workers drank beer.
Created a vaporiser to give a safer dose of chloroform rather than a cloth.
Took the handle off the water pump and the epidemic stops.
Importance:
Made chloroform safe and acceptable to use (even Queen Victoria used it). Proves that clean water is essential for good health, leads to 1875 PH Act.
Edwin Chadwick produced a document called “Report on the Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population” What were this reports 4 main recommendations?
Clean up the streets of rubbish
Provide proper sewerage
Provide a clean water supply
Appoint a Medical Officer of Health
1848 Public
What were the key features of the 1848 Public Health Act?
Although it was not compulsory. The government set up a Board of Health to encourage, but not to force, local authorities to improve conditions.
They gave local authorities money to make improvements in their areas if they wanted to and had the support of local ratepayers.
Only a few local authorities took any new measures.
By 1872 only 50 Medical Officers of Health had been appointed.
The Board of Health was abandoned in 1854.
What were the key features of the 1875 Public Health Act?
Unlike the 1848 Public Health Act, the 1975 Public Health Act actually forced local authorities to introduce the following measures:
Provision of clean water
Proper drainage and sewage
The appointment of a Medical Officer of Health
The Public Health Act of 1875 was very effective. By 1900 most British towns had built effective hygiene and water systems.
Result of the Public Health Act of 1875
Improved the standards of housing
Stopped the pollution of rivers from which people got water
Shortened working hours in factories for women and children
Made education compulsory
What were the key features of the Social Liberal Reforms?
1902 - Compulsory training for midwives
1906 - Free School Meals
1907 - Medical checks tio be carried out on children in schools
1909 - Back to back housing was banned and new laws came in to enforce higher standards for the building of new houses
How did public health change between 1845 - 1945?
Paragraph 1:
1845 Public Health Act
Paragraph 2:
John Snow and the Broad Street Pump
Paragraph 3:
1875 Public Health Act
Paragraph 4:
Social Liberal Reforms
