Public Health

Question 1

How much government involvement was there by 1848?

Answer 1

Had a lazzez-faire attitude to public health and belived it was peoples own personal resposibility, left it up to charities and local organisations

Question 2

What problems with public health were caused by the Industrial Revolution?

Answer 2

Crowded and unhygienic
Typhus and cholera were common, little understanding in how it spread
20,000 peopled dies in cholera epidemic, 1831-32

Question 4

Who published The Sanitary conditions of the labouring population?

Answer 4

Edwin Chadwick

Question 5

When was the Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring population (SCOTLP) Published?

Answer 5

1842

Question 6

What did SCOTLP call for?

Answer 6

Taxmoney to be spent on improving housing for poor to keep them healthy
Clean water and removing sewage

Question 7

When was “the Great Stink”?

Answer 7

1958

Question 8

Give two reasons for the increase in public health provisions from 1860-1905?

Answer 8

The great stink
Louis Pasteur’s germ theory

Question 9

Why was Louis Pasteur’s germ theory important for the implementation of new public health provisions?

Answer 9

Led to increasing understanding for the role of microorganisms in causing disease
Linked disease to hygiene

Question 10

Why was the great stink important for the implementation of new public health provisions?

Answer 10

Prompted parliament to recognize the need for a government funded sewage system for London

Question 11

Who is Joseph Bazalgette? Why is he important?

Answer 11

Joseph Bazalgette was the chief engineer and overseer who built 2000km of sewers in London in 1864
Completing 4 pumping stations and 2 treatment centers by 1875

Question 12

When and what was the sanitary act?

Answer 12

1866- made all towns employ inspectors of water supplies and drainage

Question 13

What and when was the Reform act?

Answer 13

1867 - doubled the number of people who could vote including many orginary men living in poor areas.

Question 14

Why was the Reform act (1867) important?

Answer 14

Pressure started to build on the government to get involved in greater public health measures.

Question 15

What did the 1875 public health act do?

Answer 15

Made local authorities responsible for:
- Supplying clean water and dealing with sewage
- Building public toilets and lighting the streets
- Regulating new housing standards and inspecting conditions in rented accommodation
- Employing health and sanitary inspections to enforce the new rules, including food quality

Question 16

Why was the 1875 public health act significant?

Answer 16

• Was the first time parliament passed national laws to enforce public health standards across the country
• Signified a major shift in the previous laissez-faire attitude
• Showed how reliant the national government was on local authorities

Question 17

What did the 1848 Public health act do?

Answer 17

• Set up the General boards of health for the first time
• Allowed towns to set up the own Boards of health

Question 18

When and who published the sanitary condition of the laboring population?

Answer 18

1842- Edwin Chadwick

Question 19

What was the the significance of the 1848 Public health act?

Answer 19

First time the government had legislated for public health

Question 20

What was the impact of 1848 public health act?

Answer 20

Very limited impact

Question 21

Why was the impact of 1848 public health act so limited?

Answer 21

• Board of Health was only set up for 5 years
• Towns were only encouraged to act, rather than forced to, only 1?3 created board
• Many people opposed the use of tax money to help the poor
• No definite proof linking disease to poor hygiene
• Chadwick was unpopular

Question 22

Who investigated the cholera epidemic at the Broad Street pump?

Answer 22

Dr John Snow

Question 23

When was the cholera epidemic at the Broad Street pump?

Answer 23

1854

Question 24

Why was the cholera epidemic art the Broad street pump significant?

Answer 24

Dr John Snow investigated and showed that local people who used an alternative water source has survived the epidemic
- this demonstrated for the first time that cholera was a water-borne disease

Question 26

What was “the Great stink”?

Answer 26

Hot weather leading to the Thames drying up and exposing excrement

Question 27

List the three main reasons for the implementation of public health provisions form 1906 - 1920?

Answer 27

- Surveys carried out by Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntree - showing peoples living conditions on a below poverty line, meaning poor nuitrition - 1/3 of volunteers for the Boer Wars classified as unfit for service - Health and fitness of the nation now became important - 1906 the Labor Party won a huge majority - hope that new reforms would be introduced concerning the ordinary people

Question 28

What services were provided by government to schools and children in 1906-1912?

Answer 28

1906 - free school meals were provided to children from poor families (3 mil in 1906 —> 14 mil in 1914) 1906 - Board of education made schools teach children about hygiene 1907 - the School medical service was set up, checking school children for illness, lice etc. 1908 - the Children and Young persons act made it illegal to sell tobacco to alcohol to children 1912 - free medical clinics where set up in schools to provide treatment to children

Question 29

What benefit was provided by government to the elderly in 1908?

Answer 29

1908 - Old age pensions introduced for people over 70 (who earned less than £31.50 per year)

Question 30

What were labour exchanges?

Answer 30

In 1909, Labour exchanges were set up so unemployed people could find work - more likely able to properly eat and live with a regular wage

Question 31

What was the national insurance act?

Answer 31

1911 - provided free medical care for any worker that paid into the National Insurance Scheme; any worker who became ill could receive free medical care from a doctor (GP) - Maternity grant was given to help pay for baby essentials

Question 32

Why was the National Insurance act significant?

Answer 32

- First time there was direct government action for public health - First time that many people had access to trained doctors

Question 33

What were the limitations of the National Insurance act?

Answer 33

- The act applied to only the workers - if family members were ill, they could not receive treatment - Worker and employer had to pay into the National Insurance Scheme along with government - not completely free health care

Question 34

List Key impact of the 1875 public health act?

Answer 34

- Better sewage system,s reduced contaminated water ant therefore reduced the spread of disease - Cleaner drinking water specifically reduced spread of water - Better housing insured healthy ventilation and fewer airborne illnesses - Reduced numbers of people becoming ill from poor quality food - Cleaner streets reduced the mice, rats and flies which could pass on disease