Public health

Roman Britain to 20th century

public health in roman britain (50AD-500)

* aqueducts/sewage systems
* public baths
* latrines
* cisterns
* public fountains
* government (taxes to fund)

what were aqueducts in roman britain?

* a channel to transport clean water from reservoirs so that people could drink fresh water and waste went into rivers
* made of stone and brick

what were cisterns in roman britain?

they collected rainwater

what were public baths used for in roman britain?

* hygiene
* socialising
* relaxation

what did public baths contain?

* hot and cold pools
* saunas
* exercise areas

what were latrines in roman britain?

These were communal toilets used in Roman Britain

What was the purpose of Roman Britain's sewage systems?

* designed to remove waste and improve public health by carrying waste away from populated areas.

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* The sewage systems were also used for drainage and irrigation purposes.

what were the consequences of roman public health?

The Romans were among the first to implement such systems, and their design and construction techniques influenced the development of future sewage systems.

why were public baths and latrines so important?

* they were organised by strong government and funded by taxes
* admissions were cheap so they were available for most classes

public fountains roman britain

Public fountains in Roman Britain were structures that provided clean water for drinking, bathing, and other daily needs of the people. They served as important social gathering places.

public health middle ages (500-1350)

* animals on street
* sanitary act/government
* ale instead of water
* monasteries

what did people drink instead of water in the middle ages?

ale

how did monasteries help public health in the middle ages?

* They provided medical care to the sick


* established hospitals


* Monks promoted cleanliness and hygiene, which helped prevent the spread of disease.
* monasteries often had access to clean water sources
* maintained gardens for growing herbs which provided herbal remedies

when was the sanitary act to keep streets cleaner in the middle ages?

1347

why did the sanitary act 1347 fail?

* it was not widely supported
* law systems were underdeveloped

when did the government try to ban pigs on the street?

1281

public health renaissance (1350-1750)

* water supply 1750
* earth closets
* chamber pots

what were earth closets during the renaissance

a type of toilet system, where human waste was collected in a container beneath a seat and covered with earth or ash to reduce odour. They were an improvement over earlier systems, but still posed health risks.

where were chamber pots emptied in the renaissance?

onto the streets

britains water supply in 1750

In 1750, Britain's water supply was primarily obtained from wells, springs, and rivers. The water was often contaminated with sewage and other pollutants, leading to widespread waterborne diseases. Water treatment and sanitation systems were virtually non-existent, and access to clean water was limited to the wealthy.

public health in the industrial revolution (1760-1840)

* edwin chadwick
* john snow
* disease TB, cholera, smallpox (low life expectancy)
* public health act
* the great stink
* joseph bazalgette

what was the average life expectancy in manchester during the industrial revolution?

19 years

Edwin Chadwick

* British social reformer


* did a survey of living conditions of the poor
* He is best known for his work in public health and sanitation.
* key role in the development of the British public health movement
* inspired the Public Health Act of 1848.

john snow and the broad street pump

* Snow plotted each death on a map and proved that the people who had died all lived close to a specific water pump.

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* He knew people used the water from the pump for drinking, washing and cooking.

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* Snow later discovered that a cesspit close to the pump had been leaking waste into the pump’s water supply

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* Snow was able to prove that dirty water was causing the spread of cholera.

the great stink

The summer of 1858 was warm and dry. As a result, the water level of the River Thames dropped. This meant the sewage and waste that were being dumped in the river were no longer being quickly washed away. 

joseph bazalgette

* designed a new sewage system for london
* built in response to the great stink
* ended significant cholera outbreaks in london

what do the 1875 public health act say?

local authorities had to provide clean water supplies, build sewerage systems and improve houses

20th century public health

* beveridge report
* liberal reforms
* NHS
* homes for heroes
* charles booth
* national insurance act

charles booth

* investigated the causes and extent of poverty

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* His findings proved that poverty led to illness and death and that the poor were not to blame for the condition they found themselves in.

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* identified the main causes of poverty as being illness and unemployment and also age both the very young and the old were most at risk of poverty

what were the liberal reforms?

* free school meals
* school medical service and health visitors to check children’s health
* old age pension

who was the national heath insurance act set up by?

david lloyd george

what was the national health insurance act set up for?

it provided compulsory insurance for lower paid workers

why did the liberal reforms fail?

* harder to get medical care \n
* home cures used instead of medicines \n
* advertising to stay away from hospitals  \n
* Government wouldn't accept the people were struggling

who introduced the national health service NHS

bevan

why was the NHS set up?

after WWII people were looking for improvements to be made 

what did the NHS provide?

* created new jobs 
* development of council houses (affordable and clean) 
* lifetime accessible health care
* free diagnosis and treatment for all

what was the housing act (1919)

250,000 houses were built for men that had come back from war