Twentieth century medicine (Children's health)

Question 2

What was the conclusion of the committee on Physical Deterioration in 1904?

Answer 2

The committee concluded that poor soldiers’ health were due to unhealthy childhoods. They advised the government to:

1. Get rid of overcrowded housing.
2. Create stricter building regulations.
3. Control air pollution.
4. Ensure regular school inspections.
5. Setting up day care for children with working parents.
6. Ban tobacco sale to children.

Question 3

What did the Liberal reforms introduce?

Answer 3

1. 1906- School meal act: Allowed councils to be in charge of providing school meals, thus giving free school meals to poor children who can’t afford it.
2. 1907- Free medical treatments for children: The government found that poor parents could not afford treatment for their children, so it told councils to set up school clinics where treatment was free.
3. 1908- Children and young person’s act: Made children protected people. Made it illegal for parents to neglect children and set up regular inspections for families with a history of neglect. Banned tobacco sale to children under age of 16.

Question 4

What other important date are there for improvement of children’s health?

Answer 4

1. 1909- Back- to- back housing banned.
2. 1918- Local councils provided pregnancy clinics, health visitors and day care centres.
3. 1919- New council houses built for poorer families.
4. 1930- Massive slum clearance program.

Question 5

Why did the government take a special interest in children’s health in the early twentieth century?

Answer 5

In 1899, the government ran a massive recruitment program for the Boer war. However, they found that 40% of men who volunteered did not meet the army’s low health requirements. The committee on Physical Deterioration was set up to investigate why soldiers’ health were so poor.