Explain how Public Health developed during 1850-1950.
In 1848 the public health act was bought into action. The 1848 act brought only limited improvements. Under the act, local health boards were set up in only 182 towns. As a result, sewage disposal and water supplies were improved in some of the places.
In 1854 those who were opposed to the central board of Health in London, were able to bring it to an end. Many water companies, landlords, and builders had hated its very existence. Others still firmly believed that it was wrong for the government to interfere in peoples private lives. There was a bad feeling between Edwin Chadwick and the medical profession. Chadwick thought that preventing the environment from becoming filthy was the key to a healthy nation. Thus, he emphasized the need for clean water supplies and good sanitation. He did not appreciate that curative measures such as good doctors and hospitals also had a part to play. Meanwhile, in September 1854, Dr John Snow had deduced that water was responsible for the spread of cholera when he plotted the victims of the disease in Broad Street, London, and found they used water from the same local pump. He removed the handle of the pump and the disease disappeared. In 1858 public health came under the control of the Privy Council and Sir John Simon, a surgeon, was made the Medical Officer of Health. He believed that public health involved both preventative and curative measures.
Between 1886 and 1903 Charles Booth, a ship owner and social investigator, carried out a survey into living conditions in the east end of London. Booth concluded that about one-third of the people lived on incomes lowers than 21s ( £1.05) per week; in his opinion, this was below the poverty line. They lived in sub-standard housing and had a poor diet. If they fell ill they could not afford to pay a doctor. There were no old age pensions. Old people who could not support themselves had only the workhouse to turn to.
