Think of your Town.

Why do we not have outbreaks of cholera and other diseases today?

Come up with asmany reasons…

A – EVALUATE THE SUCCESS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS

B – EXPLAIN WHY THE GOVERNMENT ABANDONED LAISSEZ FAIRE .

C – DESCRIBE THE CHANGES INTRODUCED IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS.

WALT: Identify why public health improved in the 19th Century.

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 deaths1848 - 62,000 deaths1854 - 20,000 deaths1866 - 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.

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

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 toiletsCharge 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.