Changing Britain - Health & Housing Flashcards
Revision
What factors caused Britain’s population to grow rapidly during the 19th century?
Improvements in farming (leading to more food), industrialisation (creating jobs), and advances in medicine and hygiene reduced death rates, Irish-famine led to large scale emigration from Ireland to Britain.
What were “back-to-back” houses?
Cramped houses built directly against one another with no gardens or proper ventilation, commonly found in industrial cities during the 19th century.
Why were slum housing conditions so dangerous for health?
Overcrowding, poor ventilation, lack of sanitation, and contaminated water spread diseases like cholera and typhoid.
What was the main cause of cholera outbreaks in 19th-century Britain?
Contaminated water supplies caused by inadequate sewage systems.
How did overcrowding in slums impact people’s health?
Overcrowding made it easy for diseases such as tuberculosis to spread, and poor living conditions weakened immune systems.
What were the main symptoms of tuberculosis (TB), a common killer disease in slums?
Persistent coughing (often with blood), fever, weight loss, and fatigue.
Who was Edwin Chadwick, and what did he achieve?
Edwin Chadwick was a social reformer who published the 1842 Report on the Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population, highlighting the need for improved public health.
What did the Public Health Act of 1848 aim to achieve?
It encouraged local authorities to improve sanitation, clean water supplies, and waste disposal to combat public health issues.
What improvements did Florence Nightingale make to hospital conditions?
She improved hygiene, sanitation, and nursing practices, significantly reducing death rates in hospitals.
How did Florence Nightingale contribute to public health beyond nursing?
She advocated for hospital reform, established training for nurses, and published Notes on Nursing (1859), influencing global health practices.
What was the link between John Snow and the fight against cholera?
John Snow identified contaminated water as the source of cholera outbreaks, proving this during the 1854 Broad Street pump outbreak.
How did the 1875 Public Health Act improve health and housing?
It made it mandatory for local councils to provide clean water, proper sewage systems, and waste disposal.
What were the living conditions like in slum housing during the 19th century?
Homes were overcrowded, damp, poorly ventilated, and lacked proper sewage or water systems, leading to poor health.
How did the discovery of germs (germ theory) by Louis Pasteur impact public health?
It showed that microorganisms caused disease, leading to better hygiene practices and the development of vaccines.
What was the impact of poor housing on children living in slums?
High child mortality rates, stunted growth, and frequent illnesses like rickets due to malnutrition and lack of sunlight.
