Its purpose was to codify previous measures aimed at combating filthy urban living conditions,[3] which caused various health threats, including the spread of many diseases such as cholera and typhus.
Reformers had from the 1830s wanted to resolve sanitary problems in urban areas, because sewage was flowing down the street daily, including the presence of sewage in living quarters. In 1848 their efforts led to the establishment of a three-man Board of Health – if one with very limited powers.[4] Many factors delayed effective implementation of reform, however, such as the fact that to perform a cleanup would cost money, and neither government, factory owners, or local authorities were keen to pay. Gradually, however, reformers helped to counteract the laissez-faire attitude of the government and public. In 1871, the Board of Health was subsumed into the Local Government Board by the Liberal Party; and when the Conservatives came to power in 1874, they were committed by Disraeli to extending social reform. A public health Act was introduced in 1875. Home Secretary Richard Cross was responsible for drafting the legislation, and received much good will from trades union groups in the consequent years for "humanising the toil of the working man". Disraeli ensured the passing of the 1875 Act; and when mocked by his opponents for neglecting more important political reforms, retorted on them with the resounding phrase ‘”sanitas sanitatum, omnia sanitas” [Health above Everything].[5]
establish by-laws for controlling new streets and buildings.[6]
With the rapid urbanisation that accompanied the Industrial Revolution, huge swathes of terraced houses had been built to accommodate the factory workers. The contrast between the housing stock built before the passage of the Act and that built after it was stark. The Act required all new residential construction to include running water and an internal drainage system, and also led to the government prohibiting the construction of shoddy housing by building contractors.[citation needed]
The Act also meant that every public health authority had to have a medical officer and a sanitary inspector,[7] to ensure the laws on food, housing, water and hygiene were carried out; and that towns had to have pavements and street lighting.[8]
It is, however, important to realise that the new powers provided were permissive, not compulsory: they provided a model of best practice for municipalities, but actual implementation remained for the most part up to the individual local authority.[9]
Thomas Whiteside Hime. Public Health: The Practical Guide to the Public Health Act, 1875, and Correlated Acts, for the Use of Medical Officers of Health and Inspectors of Nuisances. Bailliere, Tindall and Cox. 1884. Internet Archive.
William Cunningham Glen and Alexander Glen. The Public Health Act, 1875, and the Law relating to Public Health, Local Government, and Urban and Rural Sanitary Authorities. Eighth Edition. Butterworths. Knight & Co. London. 1876. Internet Archive.
James C Stevens. The Public Health Act 1875: Arranged in a Dictionary Index Form. Shaw and Sons. London. 1876. Internet Archive.
Robert Rawlinson. The Public Health Act 1875: Suggestions as to the Preparation of District Maps, and of Plans for the Main Sewerage, Drainage, and Water Supply (Revised to 1878). HMSO. London. 1878. Internet Archive (the description of this book, on that webpage, as another work by William Glen is erroneous).
World History 4th Edition by William J. Duiker and Jackson J. Spielvogel
^The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 1 of this Act.
^"History - Government and Public Health". BBC Bitesize. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
^J N Tarn, Five Per Cent Philanthropy (1973) p. 75
External links
Text of the statute as originally enacted (PDF)
Text of the Public Health Act 1875 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.
May 03, 2023
public, health, 1875, parliament, united, kingdom, public, health, acts, significant, step, advancement, public, health, england, parliament, united, kingdomlong, titlean, consolidating, amending, acts, relating, public, health, england, citation38, 55datesroy. The Public Health Act 1875 c 55 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom one of the Public Health Acts 2 and a significant step in the advancement of public health in England Public Health Act 1875 1 Parliament of the United KingdomLong titleAn Act for consolidating and amending the Acts relating to Public Health in England Citation38 amp 39 c 55DatesRoyal assent11 August 1875Status AmendedText of statute as originally enactedRevised text of statute as amendedIts purpose was to codify previous measures aimed at combating filthy urban living conditions 3 which caused various health threats including the spread of many diseases such as cholera and typhus Contents 1 Background 2 Scope of the Act 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBackground EditReformers had from the 1830s wanted to resolve sanitary problems in urban areas because sewage was flowing down the street daily including the presence of sewage in living quarters In 1848 their efforts led to the establishment of a three man Board of Health if one with very limited powers 4 Many factors delayed effective implementation of reform however such as the fact that to perform a cleanup would cost money and neither government factory owners or local authorities were keen to pay Gradually however reformers helped to counteract the laissez faire attitude of the government and public In 1871 the Board of Health was subsumed into the Local Government Board by the Liberal Party and when the Conservatives came to power in 1874 they were committed by Disraeli to extending social reform A public health Act was introduced in 1875 Home Secretary Richard Cross was responsible for drafting the legislation and received much good will from trades union groups in the consequent years for humanising the toil of the working man Disraeli ensured the passing of the 1875 Act and when mocked by his opponents for neglecting more important political reforms retorted on them with the resounding phrase sanitas sanitatum omnia sanitas Health above Everything 5 Scope of the Act EditThe Act made it compulsory for local powers to purchase repair or create sewers control water supplies regulate cellars and lodging houses establish by laws for controlling new streets and buildings 6 With the rapid urbanisation that accompanied the Industrial Revolution huge swathes of terraced houses had been built to accommodate the factory workers The contrast between the housing stock built before the passage of the Act and that built after it was stark The Act required all new residential construction to include running water and an internal drainage system and also led to the government prohibiting the construction of shoddy housing by building contractors citation needed The Act also meant that every public health authority had to have a medical officer and a sanitary inspector 7 to ensure the laws on food housing water and hygiene were carried out and that towns had to have pavements and street lighting 8 It is however important to realise that the new powers provided were permissive not compulsory they provided a model of best practice for municipalities but actual implementation remained for the most part up to the individual local authority 9 See also EditHealth of Towns Association Municipal socialism Sanitary districtReferences EditHalsbury s Statutes Third Edition Volume 26 Page 38 Thomas Whiteside Hime Public Health The Practical Guide to the Public Health Act 1875 and Correlated Acts for the Use of Medical Officers of Health and Inspectors of Nuisances Bailliere Tindall and Cox 1884 Internet Archive William Cunningham Glen and Alexander Glen The Public Health Act 1875 and the Law relating to Public Health Local Government and Urban and Rural Sanitary Authorities Eighth Edition Butterworths Knight amp Co London 1876 Internet Archive James C Stevens The Public Health Act 1875 Arranged in a Dictionary Index Form Shaw and Sons London 1876 Internet Archive Robert Rawlinson The Public Health Act 1875 Suggestions as to the Preparation of District Maps and of Plans for the Main Sewerage Drainage and Water Supply Revised to 1878 HMSO London 1878 Internet Archive the description of this book on that webpage as another work by William Glen is erroneous World History 4th Edition by William J Duiker and Jackson J Spielvogel The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 1 of this Act The Short Titles Act 1896 section 2 1 and Schedule 2 E Halevy Victorian Years London 1961 p 451 E Halevy Victorian Years London 1961 p 176 and p 262 E Halevy Victorian Years London 1961 p 451 J N Tarn Five Per Cent Philanthropy 1973 p 75 M Walsh Social Policy and Welfare 2000 p 40 History Government and Public Health BBC Bitesize Retrieved 2 May 2010 J N Tarn Five Per Cent Philanthropy 1973 p 75External links EditText of the statute as originally enacted PDF Text of the Public Health Act 1875 as in force today including any amendments within the United Kingdom from legislation gov uk Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Public Health Act 1875 amp oldid 1126158814, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
