Governmant Was The Most Important Factor In Improving Public Health In The 19Th Century. Do You Agree

[RobertStarr]

This is a practice exam question, only answer if you know it and know how to answer a question like this.

[ichkeria]

Best of luck with that.
I'd duck if I were you :-)

[boxtops]

I'd say illnesses like cholera was the most important factor meself, but I don't do people's homework.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't claim to know it but my thought is that it is what government does or doesn't do that is more important than government itself. I tend to think of it as a hurdle to overcome rather than a solution.

[Mosaic]

Well pardon me for existing!
First off, check your spelling.
Second, which country might we be writing an essay on for you?
If I felt warm towards you I'd mention the proportion of reform achieved by individuals and charities, and point out the extent of laissez-faire influence during the century, but as you come across as an arrogant twonk that hasn't done it's reading I suggest you take a hike.

[Baldric]

Do your own homework!

(and check your spelling)

[Wharton]

This is a practice exam answer.

[Sharingan]

What country are you asking about? I'll assume the UK for now and that you are referring to the 19th century as a whole and not choice parts of it.
Major issues involved- Housing- lack of adequate sewers- unsanitary hospitals- lack of knowledge about the spread of disease- inadequate diet- poor working conditions.
During the first half of the 19th century Govt did very little to improve matters except set up the board of health in 1805 to try to prevent the spread of Spanish Fever to the UK. This was short lived and only lasted a year before it was disbanded. However after a major outbreak of Cholera in 1831 another board of health was set up, again only lasting a year but with far more far reaching effects. Medical Officers were appointed to most major cities to over see drainage issues and the Poor Law Commissioners survey of 1838-1842 identified key areas where action was needed to assist not only the poor but public health generally. 50 English towns became the subject of drainage and sanitary improvements thanks to the Health of Towns Commission 1843.
The first major Public Health Act was passed in 1848 and by 1870 there were over 700 local boards acting in the interest of public health.
A List of European conferences on Public Health.
Sanitary Conference in Paris, 1851-1853, 1859-1860
Cholera Conference in Constantinople, 1865-1867
International Sanitary Convention in Austria, 1874
Venice Sanitary Conference, 1891-1893, 1897
Dresden Sanitary Conference, 1893
Paris Sanitary Conference, 1893-1894
Venice Plague Convention, 1898
Paris Sanitary Conference 1902-1903

A list of epidemics can be found here:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_epidemics

If you read about your subject anything is interesting you know, try it yourself next time xx

[Baldric]

///This is a practice exam answer///.

Yes Wharton, I did see that, however it's the arrogance portrayed in the OP that's annoying.

[WyeDyed]

I've found this great website http://www.google.co.uk I found these links on page 1.
http://www.slideshare.net/wal147/19th-century-public-health-booklet
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/shp/modern/indrevpublichealthrev1.shtml
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/well/resources/Publications/Briefing%20Notes/BN%20Learning.htm

[Sharingan]

Lol @ Wyedyed :)xx
He is a bit high handed isn't he our Robert?

[Wharton]

Baldric - I was jesting with him :-)

[aelmpvw]

I know it and know how to answer a question like this but I'm not telling you.

[Baldric]

You forgot the ;o)


;o)

[DJHawkes]

no and i know it and the answer

[tonyav]

Philanthropists.

[DJHawkes]

charirable organisations like philanthropists but not as bothered about how poor the people were

[Peter Pedant]

what exam ? (pray )

clearly the answer differs if it is a local govt internal exam ( answer yeah most defintiely) or PHM (public health medicine) when I would doubt it.

The government is clearly needed to enact public health measures, but in the C19, did they initiate the enactments or react to outside pressures from individuals, organisations and or charities.

and to answer that I would get five acts of parliament ( erm not any five - that would be five C19 and in public health) and find out where they came from.

or the five most impt public health measures, and find out where they came from (ie whose impetus led to their creation)

clean water
sewers
vaccination
local hospitals
building regs.....

oh and try not to encourage us by saying dont answer if you dont know the answer !

[Peter Pedant]

wyedye's slide share gives the answer I think.

well found WD !

and gives the view that the govt was the Final Common Path for change but had to be activated by various do-gooders.


v exciting for me: one of my forebears was living in Poland St
and another assisted Snow as case-finder. Snow appealed to the local anglican parish priest for cases and the vicar used his church wardens and others to get the families to agree to be interviewed by Snow.

Slide 12 - if you go to the John Snow pub on Berwick St, off Oxford St and walk along erm Poland St - then the block shown on the slide is still there ( looking slightly less run down ) and the side street/ cutting is DuFours Place.

[ludwig]

// only answer if you know it and know how to answer a question like this. //

I qualify on both counts, which is why I've answered.

[ludwig]

It's ok, there's no need to thank anybody for answering.