Why Was The 1848 Public Health Act Ineffective?

A detailed Summary of Why Was The 1848 Public Health Act Ineffective?

The 1848 Public Health Act was ineffective largely because it was permissive. It was generally ignored and its advice was not taken. The permissiveness of the act was not the only reason why it was ineffective. Many other factors contributed to its failing.

The permissiveness of the act is evident from the fact that it was only going to be used for five years. This was clearly not enough time to make the changes necessary and improve the public health of working class. By making the act compulsory for five years, it made it seem to the public that the government were doing something when they weren't. The act was still permissive. Many towns saw the permissive nature of the act as a reason for not implementing it. Large cities bypassed the act by getting private acts of parliament to carry out of their own improvements. However, not every city did this, so many of them were avoiding public health reform altogether. The Times said in a memorable passage,'it would rather take its chance of cholera than be forced into good health by new Public Health Board'. This clea

The terms in the act which stated when it should it be implemented and under what circumstances were ineffective andunworkable. For the act to be applied 10% of ratepayers had to apply for the act to be adopted. It was considered a great expense for them and they generally lived in adequate housing and had a healthy water supply. They did not want to pay for the improvement of living conditions and water supplies because it didn't effect them. There disregard for the poor was one of the main reasons why the act was ineffective. The act was only compulsory when the death rate was 23 in 1000. This an excessively high amount and even if the death rate was 22 in 1000 it would not be applied. These figures were appalingly high.

The exclusion of London in the act is another reason for the 1848 Public Health Act being ineffective. London was the largest city in the country and had some of the worst public health problems. London was administered by Metropolitain Commission of Sewers, which took 17 years to install effective drainage and sewers. This clearly shows that the go

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Approximate Word count = 731
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History

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Why Was The 1848 Public Health Act Ineffective?

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