These 4 items give you a clue about a key event in the History of Public Health in Britain – can you work out what it is?

Lesson Objectives To identify and explain how John Snow identified the causes of cholera outbreaks To explain and evaluate the significance of key individuals (John Snow and Octavia Hill) in Public Heath reform To analyse the reasons why the first public health was mostly a failure To evaluate whether or not Snow’s work was a turning point in medicine

What was the 1st Public Health Act – 1848? In 1848 cholera struck again and MPs voted for the 1st Public Health Act. Central Board of Health in London to sit for 5 years Local Boards of Health could be set up in towns if 10% of ratepayers agreed. Boards could improve water supply and sewage disposal Act was not compulsory. It was not fully applied across the whole country.

How significant was John Snow’s discovery?

How important was the work of John Snow in 1854? Around your own copy of Snow’s cholera map write down Who he was What he discovered Why his discovery was important Which factors helped him?

What were housing conditions like in British cities? Who was Octavia Hill? What did she do? Why was her contribution to medicine important? What factors helped her?

Did the work of Snow and Hill make a real difference? What factors were necessary for real change to occur?