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why the 1875 Public Health Act was finally passed - Coggle Diagram
why the 1875 Public Health Act was finally passed
scientific development
Pasteur's germ theory had finally proved the link between dirt and disease
The weakening of 'laissez-faire' attitude
As a result of all these changes, the government saw it could no longer leave important public health measures to individuals or councils. The government realised that it was in everyone's interest to force towns to clean up.
New voters
in 1867 working class men had been given the vote
this meant MPs were more likely to take notice of the needs of the people in their towns who were the main victims of poor public health
Education
Education was improving. IN 1870, the government made every local authority set up schools. Health education was taught in many schools. Improved literacy made it possible for people to read pamphlets from medical officers giving advice about drainage, ventilation, diet,personal cleanliness, care of children ans care of the sick.
statistics
from 1837 the government collected statistics on birth's, marriage and deaths
William Farr used these to compile an accurate picture of where the death rate was highest and what people died of
he was able to prove,a link between unhealthy living conditions and high death rates
he also published details of which were the most unhealthy towns which shamed some of them into action
Some cities led the way
Look at Leeds - a major industrial town - for example. Until 1866, very little action had been taken Then in 1866 the town appointed its first medical officer of health. IN the same year a pressure group was formed to force the council to act. It was backed by the local newspaper who publicly blamed the council for 2000 unnecessary deaths in Leeds each year. IN 1870 a local firm got a court order to prevent sewage being pumped into the river from which the town drew its own water. In 1874 Leeds had its first sewage purification works. IN other towns, throughout the country, similar changes were taking place, and towns began to compete with each other to become the cleanest.
cholera
with the link between the disease and dirty water proved once and for all by john snow and then explained by pasteurs germ theory, ratepayers were finally prepared to take action and clean up their towns
in 1865 cholera came back again