The Public Health Act, 1875

Question 1

What was a “Laissez Faire” style of government?

Answer 1

One where the government didn’t intervene in public matters

Question 2

Who was Edwin Chadwick?

Answer 2

A civil servant

Question 3

What report did Chadwick write that illustrated the link between poor health and poverty, and when was it written?

Answer 3

The report “On the Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population” in 1842

Question 4

What did Chadwick’s report lead to?

Answer 4

The 1848 Public Health Act

Question 5

When was the first Public Health Act set up?

Answer 5

1848

Question 6

What did the first Public Health Act enforce?

Answer 6

It set up central boards of health and let other councils set up their own central boards of health

Question 7

What were the limitations of the first Public Health Act?

Answer 7

The rules enforced weren’t compulsory, and many towns chose not to set up health boards. Many towns that did often refused to spend any money

In 1872, there were only 50 medical officers of health appointed

Question 8

What was the Great Stink?

Answer 8

A pile up of sewage in the Thames in 1858 causing a preposterous odour

Parliament was right next to the Thames, so officials had to intervene

Question 9

What did the government do in response to the Great Stink?

Answer 9

They planned a new sewer system which opened in 1865

Question 10

How did Pasteur and Snow’s discoveries change government ideas towards public health?

Answer 10

It showed that cleaning towns could stop the spread of disease

Question 11

How did the Second Reform Act (1867) change government ideas towards public health?

Answer 11

It gave an additional 1 million men the vote, most of whom were industrial workers, meaning that they could put pressure on the government to listen to their concerns about health.

Question 12

When was the Second Reform Act passed?

Answer 12

1867

Question 13

What actions were taken to improve public health in 1871 and 1872?

Answer 13

The government formed the Local Government Board and divided Britain into “sanitary areas” administered by officers for public health

Question 14

When was the second Public Health Act passed?

Answer 14

1875

Question 15

What did the 1875 Public Health Act do?

Answer 15

• It forced councils to appoint health and sanitary
  inspectors who made sure laws on things like water
  supplies and hygiene were being followed
• Forced councils to maintain sewerage systems to
  prevent further cholera outbreaks
• Forced councils to keep their streets clean

Question 16

Which prime minister passed the 1875 Public Health Act?

Answer 16

Benjamin Disraeli

Question 17

Why was the 1875 Public Health Act more effective than the 1848 one?

Answer 17

It was compulsory

Question 18

What was the Artisans’ Dwellings Act?

Answer 18

An act allowing local councils to buy slums with poor living conditions and rebuild them in a way that fit new government housing standards

(Passed by Disraeli in 1875)

Question 19

What was the River Pollution Act?

Answer 19

An act which stopped people from dumping waste and industrial sewage into rivers (1876)

Question 20

When was the River Pollution Act passed?

Answer 20

1876

Question 21

What was the 1870s Education Act?

Answer 21

An act which:

• Made schooling compulsory
• Taught about health education and improved literacy
  (Enabling the public to read government pamphlets
  about health etc)

Question 22

What did Chadwick’s report conclude?

Answer 22

That poverty and terrible living conditions were risk factors for disease

Question 23

why was the 1875 PHA a breakthrough

Answer 23

The government was finally taking responsibility for the health of the British people.