Advances in Health

Public Health The 1875 Public Health act forced local Authorities to provide adequate sewerage, drainage and water. Infectious diseases had to be reported to the Medical officer for Health.

Clean water Better water and sewerage schemes reduced the spread of typhus and typhoid and wiped out cholera.

New discoveries Medical knowledge improved. Chloroform was used as an anaesthetic. Vaccination against smallpox was made compulsory. Louis Pasteur discovered germs Antiseptics were used in surgery

Medical care Training for nurses improved More doctors and nurses were provided New hospitals were built and others renovated. Fever hospitals were built.

Diet The diet of ordinary people improved. Fresh food was brought to towns by rail Refrigerated ships brought cheap meat and dairy products. Cooperative shops sold cheap quality food. Poor people still lived on porridge, bread, jam and potatoes

Hygiene Soap and disinfectant became widely available Cotton clothes were easier to wash. Public baths and wash houses made it easier to keep clean.

Living conditions As better working and living conditions improved people’s health improved also

Reforms The liberal government 1906 introduced reforms which benefited people’s health 1906 Free school meals for children 1907 Medical inspections in schools 1911 National insurance act which gave free medical treatment to insured workers

Further improvements 1919 the Ministry for health was set up to raise standards Doctors worked on a cure for TB X rays were used to diagnose illness 1929 penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming.

Death Rates decline

Treatment for Ricketts!

However Poor health was still a problem Many died of illnesses like diphtheria, whooping cough, scarlet fever and TB Working class families on low wages could not afford medical fees.