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Medical problems in the 19th Century

Learning Objectives:

ALL to identify the main health problems in the period c17501900MOST as above and to explain why public health did not improve before

1850.

SOME as above and to link these to urbanisation and industrialisation.

Read through the following sources.

1) Identify what you think the main health

problems in towns were at the time. Write

the biggest health problem on your post it

note

2) What do you think the main causes of

these problems were?

Urbanisationthe

movement of people

from the country to

cities

Industrialisation - the

development of industry

on an extensive scale

So what health problems did towns face...?

Copy definitions:

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So what health problems did towns face...?

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So what health problems did towns face...?

The four

mostdangerous

19th century

diseases.

Can you identify

them by their

description?

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The Terraced Housing usedcoal to heat the houses and

this meant soot would leave thechimney with the smoke. This

would rise up in to theatmosphere and then land back

down.

The houses in poor areassuch as Whitechapel werealways near the railwayswhich were polluting theair!

So what caused these health problems...?

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Government and public health 1830-1850

The story of the local and national acts

passed following the cholera epidemic. the

clip covers acts including banning back-to-

backs in Manchester and the 1848 Public

Health Act. It goes on to consider the

weaknesses of each law and why the richer

classes were reluctant to enforce the

legislation.

Father Thames introducing his

offspring to the fair city of London;

diphtheria, scrofula and cholera.

Having looked at health problems in

the towns and their possible causes.

Watch the video and answer the

question: What should the

government do?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/government-and-public-health-1830-1850/3314.html

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I cannot afford to see adoctor if I am ill. We do nothave running water. We share

one toilet between severalfamilies. It is no wonder we are

ill. The government need tohelp us!

It is not my fault that thepoor get ill. We know thatdirt is linked to disease.They should take a bath! Iam not paying higher taxes

to solve their problem!

What should the government do?

How would these men from the 19th century answer?

The labourer

The Land Lord

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What did the government do?

In 1848 the first Public Health Act caused the setting up of a Board of Health,

and gave towns the right to appoint a Medical Officer of Health.

In 1853 vaccination against smallpox was made compulsory.

In 1854 improvements in hospital hygiene were introduced (thanks in large

part to Florence Nightingale).

In 1875 a Public Health Act enforced laws about slum clearance, provision of

sewers and clean water, and the removal of nuisances.

The benefits of these measures soon became clear, and by the late 19th

century local councils were competing with each other to provide the best

public health.

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What was significant about the 1875

Public Health Act? Why didnt

Public Health improve before

1850?

Set the scene. Use your

sources.

Describe poor health due to air

pollution and sanitation...

Before 1850 public health was

not seen as the governments

responsibility. For example

The 1848 Public Health Act wasa step forward. It showed the

government were becoming

aware that public health was

their responsibility.

Improvements were slow

though because

Improvements didnt speed up

until the 1875 Public Health Act

because...

L8 Analyse and reach a judgement on

the significance of events, people

and features of the past

L7 Use criteria to argue the reason a

feature, event or person in the past is

significant

L6 Explain what you need to look for totell if something is significant

L5 Explain the reasons for the

significance of an event, person or

feature of the past

L4 Describe some of the reasons for an

event person or feature of the past

being significant

Answer the question using the writing frame

and level ladder. Take time to make sure youare looking at the

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L8 Analyse and reach a judgement on the significance of

events, people and features of the past

L7 Use criteria to argue the reason a feature, event or person in

the past is significant

L6 Explain what you need to look for to tell if something is

significant

L5 Explain the reasons for the significance of an event, person or

feature of the pastL4 Describe some of the reasons for an event person or feature

of the past being significant

Did you meet your learning objectives?

Learning outcomes:

ALL to identify the main health problems in the period c17501900

MOST as above and to explain why public health did not improve

before 1850.

SOME as above and to link these to urbanisation and industrialisation.

Can you

give your

self a

level foryour work

today?