A Chronology of State Medicine, Public Health, Welfare and Related ...

First woman barrister called to the Bar.
1922 - 1923
1922 Irish Free State Agreement Act (12&13 Geo.V, c.4) and the Irish Free State
Constitution Act (12&13 Geo.V, Session 2, c.1) followed the 1920 act. See 1938.
Juries Act (12&13 Geo.V, c.11) related the arrangements of compiling lists of persons
liable to serve as jurors to the lists of registered electors; and set out regulations regarding
jurors.
Milk and Dairies (Amendment) Act (12&13 Geo.V, c.54) introduced designations of
milk and amended the 1915 act. See 1934.
A Ministry of Health Order laid down that medical officers of health could not be
dismissed without the consent of the Minister (see 1921 act), and all sanitary inspectors were
required to hold the certificate of the Royal Sanitary Institute. These requirements fulfilled
two of the recommendations Chadwick had made in his 1842 report. See 1929.
International Union of Midwives (later, the International Confederation of Midwives)
formed in Belgium.
First school of radiography to be recognised by the Society of Radiographers was
established at Guy's Hospital, London.
FG Banting (1891-1941, Canadian physician) and CH Best (1899-1978, Canadian
physiologist) introduced insulin therapy for diabetes, having discovered insulin the previous
year. Insulin became generally available in 1924. See 1925.
1923 Housing Act (13&14 Geo.V, c.24) altered the housing subsidy (see 1919) by
introducing a state payment, to be paid annually for twenty years to the local council, for each
house built by private builders or the local authority. See 1924.
Matrimonial Causes Act (13&14 Geo.V, c.19) allowed wives to petition for divorce on
the grounds of their husbands' adultery. See 1937.
Intoxicating Liquor Act (13&14 Geo.V, c.28) forbade the sale of alcoholic drinks to
persons under the age of 18 years.
Royal Commission on Local Government (chairman, Lord Onslow, see 1921) set up; it
reported in 1925, 1928, and 1929. The reports influenced the 1926 and 1929 acts.
The General Medical Council revised the Rules for Diplomas in Public Health and, for
the first time, specified the time that had to be devoted to the teaching of the various subjects.
Candidates were required to have had three months experience in a hospital for infectious
diseases and six months acquiring practical knowledge of the practice of public health.
"Recent Advances in Medical Education in England", a memorandum submitted to the
Minister of Health by Sir George Newman (see 1907), considered that there had been
significant developments since his report in 1918, and noted that the General Medical
Council had revised its recommendations and requirements for the medical curriculum, the
dental course and for training in public health. In concluding his memorandum Newman
emphasised the need to integrate the various subjects of the curriculum, and the centrality of
clinical study. He criticised the "oppressive load of the examination system" and drew
attention to a resolution of the General Medical Council that examiners, in assessing marks,
should be empowered to take account of attested records of work done by candidates
throughout their course of study. He repeated the need to develop further postgraduate
medical education.
The Henry Mechan chair of public health established in Glasgow University, to which
JR Currie (1871-1949) was appointed.