Public Health: Phase 1 the situation in 1850 Flashcards
How did working conditions contribute to poor public health by 1850?
Workers in mines, workshops and factors had long hours and short breaks
Toilet and washing facilities were incredibly poor with many people sharing one privy (toilet) and only a pipe to wash it
Many fell ill from work, swallowing coal and textile dust which led to lung disease
How did diet contribute to poor public health by 1850?
Fresh food was hard to get and was expensive
Food was often adulterated - mixed with other things e.g. chalk in bread, sand in sugar for shopkeepers to make more money
How did urbanisation contribute to poor public health by 1850?
People lived in overcrowded housing with little ventilation and no clean water supply
Landlord made profits from renting out houses and wanted them built quickly.
How did lack of access to a doctor contribute to poor public health by 1850?
Doctors were not paid by the government and so charged fees for their patients
Poor people could not afford to go to the doctor
How did the role of the government contribute to poor public health by 1850?
Most politicians had a laissez-faire attitude to the public health and believed each local area and rate payers should make decisions
Income tax was very new and very low so there was no money to make improvements
How did killer diseases contribute to poor public health by 1850?
Few people had been vaccinated against smallpox despite it being available
There was no prevention or treatment for typhus, typhoid fever or influenza
Cholera was the most frightening disease. The epidemic of 1931-32 killed approx 20,000
