Medicine 2: Public Health

Question 1

‘Sanitary conditions of the Labouring Population’

Answer 1

• Published 1842
• James Chadwick
• Highlighted the terrible conditions under which poor people were living
• Suggested this was limiting economic growth

Question 2

Broad Street Pump

Answer 2

• 1854, John Snow
• Proved Cholera was a water-borne disease
• Deaths from an outbreak were centralised around this pump
• When the handle was removed the deaths stopped

Question 3

Causes of liberal reform

Answer 3

Demands of empire
* Men too weak to fight in war
* Boer War highlighted
* some areas up to 69%
Politics
* Rivalry with Conservatives and Labour pushed liberals further left
* Labour 2 seats 1900, 29 by 1906

Question 4

Cause of reform: Demands of Empire

Answer 4

• Britain needed strong army
• Concern over health of troops
• In Boer War up to 69% of soldiers unfit to fight
• Boer war 1899
• Committee on Physical Deterioration

Question 5

Cause of reform: Politics

Answer 5

• Rise of socialism in Britain
• Conservatives promies changes
• 1900 Labour Party formed
• Labour, 2 seats in 1900, 29 by 1906
• Threat led to Liberals being even further left leaning

Question 6

2 Liberal Reforms for Children

Answer 6

1. 1908 Children and young people act. illegal to abuse kids, commitees set up to ensure welfare, different childrens prisons, child care regulated (Difficult to enforce, conditions still harsh)
2. 1912 School clinics, Medical treatment for Children free in schools (Standard of care varied)

Question 7

Liberal Reform for Elderly

Answer 7

1908 Old Age Pensions act, Over 70s received 5s a week. Claimed by 650,000 in first year. (raised taxes, rich were in uproar)

Question 8

2 Liberal reforms for Workers

Answer 8

National Insurance Act 1911
1. Part 1, sickness benefit of 10s for 13 weeks. 16 million in scheme. (Decreased after 13 weeks off)
2. Part 2, Unemployed workers got 7s 6d a week. 2.5 million workers recieved.(only for 15 weeks)

Question 9

1848 Public Health Act

Answer 9

• Permissive, Board of Health encouraged action but was not mandatory
• Allowed towns to: establish a Board of Health, employ a medical officer, organise rubbish and sewage removal
• Disbanded in 1878

Question 10

1848 Public Health Act limitations

Answer 10

• Permissive
• Terms were temporary, Board of Health ended in 1854
• Very high cost of improving conditions locally
• Chadwick was difficult to work with
• Local tax increases not popular

Question 11

1875 Public Health Act

Answer 11

Authorities had to:
* provide clean water
* dispose of sewage
* ensure only safe food was sold

Must search for dangers to public health “nuisances” and take action to fix it.

Question 12

1876 River Pollution Prevention Act

Answer 12

Made it illegal for companies to dump waste , including chemicals into rivers

Question 13

1875 Artisan Dwelling Act

Answer 13

Gave local governments the power to demolish slum housing.

Question 14

Great Stink

Answer 14

• 1858
• Heat wave caused excrement in the Thames to dry on shores
• Caused incredibly bad smell, near parliament
• Showed that Thames was not a safe waste disposal

Question 15

1858 Sewers act

Answer 15

• Parliament passed an act to build a sewer system
• Bazalgette assigned to build it
• £3million assigned
• Oval shaped sewers made of brick

Question 16

Building of the Sewers

Answer 16

• Most finished by 1865
• Entirely finished in 1875, for £6.5 million
• 2000 Km

Question 17

Beveridge report

Answer 17

1942 Published Will Beveridge
Wanted to address 5 problems:
1. Want
2. Disease
3. Ignorance
4. Squalor
5. Idleness

Question 18

1946 National Health Act

Answer 18

• NHS Bill
• Doctors would work for the government rather than privately
• They would be paid a salary rather than per patient

Question 19

Impact of NHS

Answer 19

1948-1949:
1. 187 Million prescriptions
2. 5.25 Million glasses
3. 8.5 Million treated at dentists