Transcript Think of your Town.

Think of your Town.
 Why do we not have outbreaks of cholera and other
diseases today?
 Come up with as
many reasons…
WALT: Identify why public health
improved in the 19th Century.
A – EVAL UATE THE S UCCES S OF THE PUBL IC HEALTH
ACTS
B – EXPLAIN WHY THE GOVERNMENT ABANDONED
LAISSEZ FAIRE.
C – DESCRIBE THE CHANGES INTRODUCED IN THE
PUBL IC HEALTH ACTS .
What were social conditions like in the
19th Century?
Why was nothing done?
 Late 18th C new Industrial Towns were built.
 The factory owners often built cheap back to back housing,
with little or no sanitation.
 In 1830 the average life expectancy for factory workers in
Bolton was only 17 years.
 These problems went almost unnoticed, until CHOLERA.
1832 - 32,000 deaths
1848 - 62,000 deaths
1854 - 20,000 deaths
1866 - 14,000 deaths
Come up with a Plan to solve these problems.
- It is 1842…
- The streets are overflowing with refuse.
- There is no where for the sewage to go other then cess
pits or the street.
- Most towns rely on wells and communal pumps.
- There are no medical facilities for the inhabitants of
towns.
- There have been multiple outbreaks of Cholera across
Europe and the UK. Killing thousands indiscriminately.
Letter
 Dear Sirs,
 Having recently visited the town of Leeds and
witnessing the terrible conditions, I propose the
following changes…this would improve Public Health
[How].
 Sincerely,
Who was Edwin Chadwick?
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypvWY9PhARQ
Chadwick’s Report
Report into the Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population of Great Britain.
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Disease is caused by bad air and these disease are common all over the country
A medical officer should be appointed to take charge in each district.
People cannot develop clean habits until they have clean water
The poor conditions produce a population that doesn’t live long, is always short of
money, is brutal and rough.
We must improve drainage remove rubbish from houses, streets and roads, and
improve the water supply.
The bad air is caused by rotting animals and vegetables, by damp and filth, and by
stuffy, overcrowded houses. When these things are improved the death rate will go
down.
More people are killed by filth and bad ventilation each year than are killed by war.
The poor cost us too much: the rich pay to feed and clothe orphans. Money would
be saved if fewer parents died of disease. A healthier workforce would harder too.
 Why did the Government finally abandon Laissez Faire and act?
How effective.
 Now with your Partner read the remaining slides.
 Take notes on how effective the Public Health Acts
were.
 Promenade – How important was the contribution of
Edwin Chadwick to Public Health in Britain.
1848 Public Health Act…
 1848 Public Health Act
 A National Board of Health is to be created with the
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power to se up local health boards [Committees that
try to improve drainage, sewers, rubbish collections,
build ‘public toilets’, water supplies and so one] where
there is a high death rate.
Local boards of health have powers to:
Make sure new houses are built with drains and toilets
Charge a local rate (tax) to pay for improvements.
Appoint medical officers who can ‘inspect nuisances’.
1848 Public Health Act.
 The first public health measures were based upon the idea
that miasmas (bad smells) caused disease. Although the
idea was wrong, the measures against the miasmas
involved a greater focus on cleanliness, and this improved
public health.
 Chadwick, like many people, believed that disease was
caused by air pollution. His ideas on cleaning up towns were
a step in the right direction but his conclusions were too
general and did not address the specific causes of disease.
However, he was the first major figure in public health and
his work helped to make later reforms possible.
 Perhaps Chadwick’s greatest contribution was to end the
government’s ‘laissez faire’ attitude to public health
1875 Public Health Act
 1875 Public Health Act This brought together a range of
Acts covering sewerage and drains, water supply,
housing and disease. Local authorities had to appoint
Medical Officers in charge of public health. Local
sanitary inspectors were appointed to look after
slaughterhouses and prevent contaminated food being
sold. Local authorities were ordered to cover sewers,
keep them in good condition, supply fresh water to
their citizens, collect rubbish and provide street
lighting.