Reponses to cholera epidemics Flashcards
(13 cards)
how and when did cholera arrive in Britain
brought to Britain in 1831 by sailors who arrived from India
how was it spread
Through water infected by the excrement of people who carried the disease
what years were the main cholera epidemics
1831-32, 1848, 1854, 1865-66
what were the beliefs about the disease during the 1830s outbreak
People still believed in the miasma theory, the church continued to claim that it was a punishment from God, connections were made between dirt and disease
what were the local vs national government responses for the 1830s outbreak
National - A national day of fasting, humiliation and prayer on 2nd March 1832
Local - Burning tar in the street to purify the air, clearing rubbish from the streets, separate hospitals and graveyards to stop contamination
what were the beliefs about the disease during the 1848 outbreak
Edwin Chadwick produced his ‘sanitary report’ which allowed people to understand the link between living in dirty conditions and disease
what were the local vs national government responses for the 1848 outbreak
National - The Public Health Act of 1848 set up the General Board of Health and encouraged local councils to set up health boards to clean towns
Local - Town leaders thought that following the public health act would be too expensive so there was little change
what were the beliefs during the 1854 outbreak
Dr John Snow proved that cholera was spread by infected water by finding that the pump on Broad Street was spreading the disease
local vs national government responses for the 1854 outbreak
National - Laissez-faire attitude was continued and the General Board of Health was abolished
Local - no change
what were the beliefs during the 1866 outbreak
Ideas of Snow were still accepted and Pasteur proved that germs cause disease
local vs national government response for the 1866 outbreak
National - 1866 Sanitary Act made councils responsible for the sewers, water supply and street cleaning
Local - In 1865, Joseph Bazalgette’s new sewerage system was opened which revolutionised public health
how did the privy change
Went from a midden privy (toilet with a pit dug underneath) to a pail privy (toilet with a removable bucket)
what did the 1875 Public Health Act say
It enforced the 1848 Public Health Act, making it compulsory for local councils to clean up their towns - included the appointment of health inspectors
