Public Health Act 1875
Encyclopedia
The Public Health Act 1875 was established in the United Kingdom
to combat filthy urban living conditions, which caused various public health
threats, including the spread of many diseases such as cholera
and typhus
. Reformers wanted to resolve sanitary problems, because sewage was flowing down the street daily, including the presence of sewage in living quarters. The act required all new residential construction to include running water and an internal drainage system. This act also led to the government prohibiting the construction of shoddy housing by building contractors.
Many factors delayed reform, however, such as the fact that to perform a clean up, the government would need money, and this would have to come from factory owners, who were not keen to pay, and this further delayed reform. But reformers eventually helped to counteract the government's laissez-faire attitude, and a public health act was introduced in 1875.
The act also meant that towns had to have pavements
and street lighting.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to combat filthy urban living conditions, which caused various public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
threats, including the spread of many diseases such as cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
and typhus
Typhus
Epidemic typhus is a form of typhus so named because the disease often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters...
. Reformers wanted to resolve sanitary problems, because sewage was flowing down the street daily, including the presence of sewage in living quarters. The act required all new residential construction to include running water and an internal drainage system. This act also led to the government prohibiting the construction of shoddy housing by building contractors.
Many factors delayed reform, however, such as the fact that to perform a clean up, the government would need money, and this would have to come from factory owners, who were not keen to pay, and this further delayed reform. But reformers eventually helped to counteract the government's laissez-faire attitude, and a public health act was introduced in 1875.
The act also meant that towns had to have pavements
Sidewalk
A sidewalk, or pavement, footpath, footway, and sometimes platform, is a path along the side of a road. A sidewalk may accommodate moderate changes in grade and is normally separated from the vehicular section by a curb...
and street lighting.