Who helped to improve in the 19th Century? 7 factors

• Religion • Chance • Individuals • War • Technology • Government • Communication https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEyvc9_ BrKs Write the subtitle –

Dr Barnado

As you watch the video – write bullet point notes about what he did.

How would this improve public health? Name of individual What did they do? How would this improve public health? CHALLENGE COLUMN William Farr

Thomas Southwood Smith

Edwin Chadwick

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Farr https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Southwood_Smith https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zhdy4 wx Who was Joseph Bazalgette? What did the government do? It was the epidemic of 1848 rather than the Health of Towns Association that finally forced the government to act. It passed the 1848 Public Health Act. This allowed local councils to improve conditions in their own town if they wished, and if they were prepared to pay for it. They could force towns with a particularly high death rate to take action over water supply and sewage and appoint a Medical Officer of Health.

But, by 1872, only 50 councils had a Medical Officer of Health. Some towns, like Leeds, took steps to improve their facilities but many did not. Other Acts followed, like the 1875 Public Health Act, which was the real breakthrough. This Act had more power. Local Councils were forced to provide clean water, and appoint Medical Officers of Health and Sanitary Inspectors. The 1875 Food and Drugs Act even regulated food and medicine. The great clean up was under way and it was a success. In 1868 there were 716 deaths from typhus in , in 1885 there was just 28 and by 1900, none.

London started building sewers in 1858. This started to improve public health but there were other factors too. The 1875 Public Health Act allowed councils to knock down bad housing and replace it. Flush toilets became more widely used in better-off homes and new products like Pear’s soap became available more cheaply which meant people could stay clean. Compulsory vaccination for smallpox was introduced in 1853 too. Glossary: - Medical Officer of Health – someone in charge of health of the town, medically trained. Typhus – spread by fleas or lice Sanitary – conditions which effect hygiene What’s happening? Why?

How would this impact on health? The Victorians (1837-1901) were great at collecting data…

1842 • Rich people in cities lived on average to age 45. • Labourers lived until 16(!)

• In Manchester 50% of all children died before their 5th birthday.

What conclusions would you draw from looking at this map?

Blue dots are water pumps. Red dots are deaths.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji3 WiF6tldw Dirty water…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvPF9xmyyBU

What did Chadwick say about health and the poor?

What was politicans reaction at first and why?

How did Chadwick make cholera worse?

What did John Snow prove and how? How useful is this source to a historian studying public health problems in cities? EMAIL YOUR ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE TO: • [email protected] • [email protected]