The People's Health Facts

Gin Act

Passed in June 1751 limited who could sell gin and thereby cut consumption dramatically.

In mid 18th century London, at the lowest end of the socio-economic scale, the consumer product of choice was gin.

Black Death

A deadly plague that swept through Europe between 1347 and 1351

Cholera

an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food (19th century)

1st Public Health Act

1848

2nd Public Health Act

1875

Louis Pasteur

A French chemist, this man discovered that heat could kill bacteria that otherwise spoiled liquids including milk, wine, and beer.

John Snow

Mapped the occurrence of cholera in London

Joseph Bazalgette

Designed a complex sewer system for London, it included 13,000 miles of sewers.

Edwin Chadwick

This was a public health official who wrote reports on the poor living conditions of the cities and believed that poverty was caused by illnesses

NHS

1948

Great Plague

1665-1666

Plague Doctor

Wore a uniform covering every part of their body. Wore a mask with a beak that could store sweet smelling herbs

Monasteries

Religious community where Christians called monks gave up their possessions and devoted their lives to serving God.

Conduits

a pipe, channel, for conveying fluids

Cesspits

a pit for the disposal of liquid waste and sewage

Latrines

A communal toilet of a type often used in camps or barracks

Norwich

Name and Shame

Winchester

Butchers Guild

Shrewsbury

Taxing of the Rich

Henry VIII Order

Isolation

Elizabeth I Order

Regulate Isolation across England

Clean Air Act

(CAA, 1970) set emission standards for cars and limits for release of air pollutants

The Great Smog

four days of intense smog in London in 1952, which alerted people to poor air quality

AIDS

A serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products especially by sexual contact or contaminated needles.

Spanish Flu

Unprecedentedly lethal influenza epidemic of 1918 that killed more than 22 million people worldwide.

Printing Press

A mechanical device for transferring text or graphics from a woodblock or type to paper using ink. Presses using movable type first appeared in Europe in about 1450.

microscope

device that produces magnified images of structures that are too small to see with the unaided eye (Early Modern)

Coal burning Fires

Early Modern Period Technology

smoking ban

Introduced in 2007. This made it illegal to smoke in all enclosed public places.

Back to back housing

Industrial Period

council housing

Government funded housing (20th century)

NHS discoveries

Test tube babies, Heart Transplants, Bone Marrow donations etc.

Monasteries use in Medieval Times

Clean Water, Pipes, Health Service, Countryside so cleaner, separate wash basins.

Actual Causes of the Black Death

Peaking at around the 14th century, rats and fleas carried the plague to Europe, usually aboard ships.

Medieval Causes of the Black Death

Miasma, Jews poisoning the wells, Astrology, Punishment from God, imbalance of humours.

Responses to the Black Death

a judgment: some thought God was punishing people for sin - a conspiracy: there were massacres of Jews who were accused of poisoning the water supply - an appeasement: flagellants sought a purging by flogging themselves

Responses to the Great Plague

Isolation, Quarantine, Plague Orders, Plague Doctors, Fasting.

Causes of the Great Plague

Miasma, punishment from God.

Causes of cholera.

Miasma

Medieval Period

1250-1500

Early Modern Period

1500-1750

Industrial Period

1750-1900

Modern Period

1900-present

Housing changes

Wood - Bricks - Back to back Housing - Council Housing

Chalk removal from food

Modern Period