-
-
History of Cholera Outbreak
1831-2. A severe outbreak of cholera affects many British towns and cities and prompts investigation on the part of the medical community. 32,000 victims in total. -
Dr. Robert Baker submits his Report to the Leeds Board of Health outlining his investigation into the cholera outbreak in Leeds.
-
The periodical Punch is launched, a British weekly magazine of humour and satire established in 1841 by Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells.
-
Edwin Chadwick publishes his Report into the Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population of Great Britain.
-
The Health of Towns Association is established to put pressure on the government to bring about sanitary reform.
-
Triggered by Chadwick's report, 1842. Appraisal of sanitary conditions in britain. Minor legislation designed to hold situation until Public Health Act could be prepared.
-
Made a health authority, empowered to appoint medical officer of health (who was a doctor). Council powers to carry out sewage, drainage & water supply improvement
-
Defined the right to towns to lay water supplies and drainage scehems. Allowed them to control nuisances.
-
The Public Health Act is passed by Robert Peel's government, establishing a Central Board of Health as well as corporate boroughs with responsibility for drainage and water supply to different areas.
-
1848-9. Britain suffers another outbreak of cholera. 10,000 people die in three months in London alone. 62,000 victims in total
-
The Metropolitan Sanitary Association is established to campaign for adequate public health provision for London (not covered by the Public Health Act of 1848).
-
John Snow publishes On the Mode of Communication of Cholera. A second edition is published in 1854, this time including findings from the case of the Broad Street pump.
-
The Morning Chronicle begins a series of letters and articles looking at the issue of sanitary reform. These are published daily until the end of 1850.
-
The Metropolitan Sanitary Association publishes its first report.
-
Charles Dickens begins to publish his journal Household Words.
-
1853-4. Third outbreak of cholera. 20,000 victims in total.
-
The outbreak of cholera documented by John Snow in the second edition of On the Mode of Communication of Cholera began a year before.
-
Enabled justices to prosecuted nuisances in petty session courts.
-
A revised Public Health Act is passed, abolishing the Central Board of Health and creating local boards responsible for preventative action and reform.
-
Designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette. 83 miles of pipes, discharging more than 400 million gallons a day into the River Thames. The system was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales in 1865, although the whole project was not actually completed for another ten years.
-
1866-7. Fourth Outbreak of Cholera. 14,000 deaths in total.
-
Parliament passes the Sanitary Act making local authorities responsible for the removal of 'nuisances' to public health and for the removal or improvement of slum dwellings.
-
Consolidation of previous 30 laws. Every part of the country has public health authorities. They each have a medical officer and one sanitary inspector to ensure laws on food adulteration, water supplies and cleansing are upheld. Local poweres are able to lay sewers, drains and build reservoirs.
